Former Ghana international George Alhassan has expressed his support for the idea of naming a young player as captain of the Black Stars, emphasizing that leadership should take precedence over age.
Alhassan’s remarks follow the controversy surrounding Mohammed Kudus being handed the captain’s armband for the Black Stars’ two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sudan. The decision, made by head coach Otto Addo, sparked mixed reactions and coincided with Ghana’s underwhelming performances in both games.
Kudus was appointed captain in the absence of Thomas Partey, who missed the October international window due to injury. However, the decision to bypass Jordan Ayew—widely regarded as the next in line for the captaincy—raised eyebrows among fans and pundits.
Speaking on Asempa FM, Alhassan defended the move, arguing that age should not be a barrier if a young player demonstrates strong leadership qualities.
“If there is a young player in the team, and his leadership is okay, why not? There is nothing wrong with making him the Black Stars captain,” he said.
Reflecting on past captaincy disputes, Alhassan recalled the backlash when Kwesi Appiah was replaced as captain by Abedi Pele, highlighting that the uproar was due to the manner in which the transition was handled rather than the choice of a younger leader.
Otto Addo has since restored Jordan Ayew as captain for the November international fixtures against Angola and Niger, aiming to bring stability to the team after their failed AFCON qualification campaign.
