West Ham forward Michail Antonio has weighed in on Andre Ayew’s recent absence from the Ghana national team, describing it as a natural progression in football as age catches up with the 34-year-old striker.
Ayew, a long-time servant of the Black Stars, has not been called up since March 2024. Head coach Otto Addo previously revealed that he had a candid conversation with Ayew to explain the decision.
Antonio, who was Ayew’s teammate at West Ham between 2016 and 2018, shared his perspective by drawing parallels with his own experience.
“He’s getting a bit older now, and new boys are coming in. It’s normal – it happens to all footballers,” Antonio said in an interview. “You get through the older players and try to bring in someone new.”
Reflecting on his situation at West Ham, Antonio added: “It’s the same with me here. Every year, they try to replace me with younger players, but I’m still here. As players age, clubs look for fresh talent because some of the things you could do when you were younger, you can’t do anymore. You’re not as quick as you used to be, so it’s normal.”
Ayew’s time at West Ham saw him make over 40 league appearances and score nine goals between 2016 and 2018. Despite his exclusion from the national team, Ayew remains a respected figure in Ghanaian football, having captained the Black Stars and played a pivotal role in numerous tournaments.
