Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan
Coach Otto Addo's decision to leave out Andre Ayew from his latest Black Stars squad to face Mali and the Central African Republic has stirred up conversations of varied opinions across various media platforms.
The discussions have probed the soundness of Otto Addo's decision and the possible effects on Andre Ayew’s career and future with the Black Stars.
The Ayew family, through its spokesperson, Fiifi Tackie, and ex-footballer, Solar Ayew, have made known their position on the matter, assuring that the player will continue to make himself available for future Ghana call-ups.
Two prominent personalities who have weighed in on the issue are former Black Stars captains Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah.
Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan, the captain who controversially handed over the role to Andre Dede Ayew in 2019, following a decision by then-coach Kwasi Appiah, told JoyNews that if he were in Dede Ayew's shoes, he would be heavily disappointed with the decision by Otto Addo.
However, he believes that Coach Otto Addo made a decision that he is convinced is in the interest of the team and must be supported.
"If it were me, I wouldn't be happy, which is a normal thing, but at the end of the day, the coach has made the decision, so we have to just support. We shouldn't forget Andre is already a legend," he said.
"For me, Andre has done so much for Ghana. He started way back in 2007 and has been consistent in the national team. He is the most capped player. I think the coach has made his decision. Personally, I played with Andre, and he has done everything for Ghana, but this is the situation where we have to move on. The coach has made his decision," he added.
Stephen Appiah
Stephen Appiah, widely considered as the most outstanding skipper in the history of the Black Stars, is credited with providing sound leadership for Ghana’s success from the mid-2000s to 2010.
The former Juventus midfielder believes that Andre Ayew still has some football left in him and that it is imperative for the handlers of the Black Stars to manage the team to keep the unity and morale in camp.
"Dede still has much to offer, even if he isn't playing full matches. We shouldn't look at a Dede who is coming to play 90 minutes or 45. He can be around the team," Appiah stated. He emphasized that Ayew's presence is valuable not just on the field but off it as well.
"I think he still has a part to play in the team. Even if it's not on the pitch, off the pitch," Appiah explained.
Black Stars to play Mali and CAR
The Black Stars will play Mali on June 6 in Bamako before hosting the Central African Republic on June 10 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
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