Dede Ayew Dropped From Ghana Black Stars Squad For Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers

Dede Ayew Dropped From Ghana Black Stars Squad For Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers

  • Black Stars captain Dede Ayew has been dropped from the national team squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers
  • Black Stars Coach Otto Addo announced his squad for the games against Mali and the Central African Republic at the GFA headquarters
  • Ayew plays for French Ligue 1 side Le Havre, where he scored six goals in 19 appearances this season

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Black Stars captain Dede Ayew has been dropped from the national team squad set to face Mali and the Central African Republic in World Cup qualifiers.

This is only the fifth time in the past six years that Ayew has missed out on the squad.

Black Stars captain Dede Ayew dropped by Otto Addo
Black Stars captain Dede Ayew
Source: Getty Images

Black Stars Coach Otto Addo announced his squad for the upcoming games at a press conference at the Ghana Football Association headquarters on May 29, 2024.

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Addo said the news today did not come as a surprise to Ayew.

"I had a long chat with Andre and gave him the reason why he is not in the squad," he said.

Earlier reports had speculated that Ayew, aged 34, would be dropped amid controversy over his role on the team over the last few years.

Ayew plays for French Ligue 1 side Le Havre, where he scored six goals in 19 appearances. However, that does not seem enough to retain his place within the squad.

There was one notable return to the squad in Thomas Partey, who has recently been sidelined with injury.

Black Stars did not win their most recent games, losing against Nigeria and drawing against Uganda.

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Dede Ayew allegedly not called up to the Black Stars by Otto Addo: "The end of an era"

Scores of Black Stars fans have been infuriated by the team's performance, and they expect Otto Addo to restore the team to its former glory.

Otto Addo appointed as head coach of Black Stars

YEN.com.gh reported that Addo was recently appointed head coach after Ghana's poor performance at the 2023 AFCON, which saw the team exit at the group stage.

The Black Stars did not win any group-stage matches, which caused many Ghanaians to be dissatisfied and led to Chris Hughton's dismissal as head coach.

As an interim head coach, the former Black Stars player led Ghana to the 2022 World Cup.

After being named substantive coach, he called fellow ex-Black Stars players Fatau Dauda and John Paintsil to his coaching staff.

Proofread by Edwina N.K Quarcoo, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Delali Adogla-Bessa avatar

Delali Adogla-Bessa (Current Affairs Editor) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.