Popular Ghanaian broadcaster Dan Kwaku Yeboah has weighed in on Andre Ayew's absence from the recent Black Stars squad, claiming that the Le Havre player was unjustly omitted from the team.
Dan Kwaku Yeboah could not understand how Ayew, who has scored 5 goals in 19 appearances, was overlooked for the squad while some players he claims are merely substitutes were selected.
He expressed his disappointment on Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV on YouTube, singling out Kamaldeen Sulemana, Joseph Wollacott, and Edmund Addo as players he was surprised to see selected over Ayew.
"After the AFCON, Dede Ayew has the best statistics among all Ghanaian players in Europe. He has played 19 games and scored 5 goals, but he did not make the cut," he said.
"Kamaldeen is a substitute for Southampton in the Championship, yet he is included. Edmund Addo, who has not shown any superior qualities, is included. Jojo Wollacott, I don't know who is supporting him, but he is included," he added.
Dan Kwaku Yeboah also questioned Ghana's criteria for player call-ups, suggesting that Dede Ayew's exclusion would only be justifiable if Otto Addo expressed his intention to move on from the 34-year-old.
"If you are replacing player A with player B, who is superior to player A, then there is no issue. However, the criteria for selection are not transparent enough. The argument would be different if Otto Addo could be forthright and inform Ghanaians that Dede Ayew has served the Black Stars long enough and now the team wishes to move forward."
"If not, how do you omit a player whose statistics are comparatively better than, if not all, most of the players?"
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo announced his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
Ghana is scheduled to play Mali on Thursday, June 6, 2024, before hosting the Central African Republic on Monday, June 10, 2024.
Watch Dan Kwaku Yeboah's Black Stars squad reaction below:
EE/EK