Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has made a compelling case for retaining Black Stars captain Andre Ayew in the team.
Ayew has been without a club since May, leading to his exclusion from Ghana's squad for the October international friendlies against the USA and Mexico. There have been suggestions that he might also miss the early stages of next year's Africa Cup of Nations.
However, Agyemang-Badu, a former Ghana midfielder, believes that Ayew remains an indispensable figure for the Black Stars. He emphasizes that Ayew's contributions off the field are invaluable to the national team, even if he's not playing regularly.
"We will still need Dede Ayew in the Black Stars; he's still the leader of the team. Not necessarily on the pitch but for other unforeseen circumstances," Agyemang-Badu argued on Radio 360 Power Sports.
Agyemang-Badu also drew from his own experience when he was called up to the Black Stars during a period of injury and praised former coach Avram Grant for recognizing the value of his experience and including him in the team.
Andre Ayew, who will turn 34 in December, holds the record as the most experienced player in the Black Stars, with a remarkable 115 appearances and 24 goals since his debut in 2007.
The former Marseille star remains hopeful of securing a place in the squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Madagascar and Comoros. He is also confident about being named in the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast.
Ghana will compete in Afcon against formidable opponents Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, and Ayew's experience and leadership are expected to be crucial as the Black Stars aim for a strong showing in the tournament.
