Former Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah has rallied Andre Ayew and feels he is still influential and still has more to offer to the senior men national team both on and off the pitch.
Tornado, as he is affectionately known, made these comments following Andre's recent snub from the Black Stars squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mali and Central African Republic.
His absence has generated lots of conversation on social media with divided opinions among the Ghanaian football fans as some believe his time is due with the national team whiles others are on the opposition end.
Speaking in an interview on 3Sports, Stephen Appiah, who is the first captain to qualify the Black Stars to the World Cup, has thrown his support behind Andre Ayew and feels he will fight his way back since his presence is still needed
"In my observation during the AFCON, for instance, Max Gradel, at 37, was a key figure for the Ivory Coast team. Age should not be the sole determinant. If a player is 38 to 40 and still delivering, why not?" remarked Appiah during an interview with 3Sports
"From what I have observed, I believe he has proven his worth. While the Ayew we saw in 2010 may have evolved, his recent exploits, particularly with his club, speak volumes," remarked Appiah.
"We shouldn't solely focus on Ayew's playing time. His presence alone can be influential. I believe he still has a role to play, whether it's on or off the pitch," he landed
The four-time African champions held their first training session with 24 players, with the remaining two thus Alexander Djiku and Osman Bukari expected to join very soon.
They will travel to Bamako on Tuesday, June 4, and will play as guests to Mali in two days time before they host Central African Republic in Kumasi on June 10, 2024.
