Ghana without Andre Dede Ayew in the Afcon tourney is no doubt a big blow because of his dedicated service to the nation. To me, he is the master of commitment and holds the winning formula for the Black Stars at the moment.
His exclusion from the set-up is not only going to affect the team's winning chances but stars shortage as well. That’s why as a matter of urgency, the FA must insist on making their own assessment on his latest injury.
Though his club, Olympique Marseille have sent the FA a medical report of his hamstring injury, there must be a thorough check up as well by the team's doctor to ascertain the truth involved. I see the injury’s timing as a simulated one because the same player in the last edition of the Afcon tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea out of patriotism for his country forgone a serious shoulder injury. The latest injury by Ayew is to me a sort of revenge he is perpetrating against the team for excluding his younger brother Jordan from the squad because of indiscipline. He can absolutely connive with his club team doctors to fake injury in order to skip the tournament.
The FA shouldn't rush to accept the injury claim but also do their own medical checking on him to prove how authentic it is. Ghana needs Ayew badly for the tournament because Ghana ought to have few of the players who participated in the last edition of the tournament for the sake of cohesion.
I even prefer that injury or no injury, we should give him preferential treatment by sending him to the tournament as we did for Asamoah Gyan in Angola, when he recovers he plays.
Andre Ayew, if you like it or not, is a star and his contribution towards such a big tournament shouldn't be underrated. The team, I dare say it again, lacks bite especially upfront where only Asamoah Gyan is the only experienced striker in their midst. We need players of Ayew’s type who hold unto the ball and can score from his own individual brilliance if the attack is not effective.
Christian Atsu might be of help when it comes to holding unto the ball but how far do we know him in terms of tournaments?
Yahaya Mohammed’s injury to me, will not affect the team because he was one of the experimental players who is only enjoying the record of leading the local league with no international exposure.
Kwadwo Asamoah must be given the exact role he is serving at Juventus – operating on the flanks.
The FA must reverse Dede's fake injury in order to enhance our chances or they should turn back to withdraw the promises made to President John Mahama that they are going for the ultimate.
I am done
