Andre Looks to Step Out of Father's Shadow

In 2008 when Andre Ayew represented Ghana at the senior level, he was written off as the comparison with his father, Abedi Ayew Pele was used against him.

Some questioned his inclusion, stating that he was riding on the back of his father's legendary status.

With a sense of responsibility dawning on him, he insisted he was different from his dad, a legend, an ex-Ghana captain and three-time African Footballer of the Year.

It is understandable and inevitable that whenever a player reaches a high level, he would be immediately compared to one of the game's greats.

Andre is convinced that developments in recent years are enough for him to step out of his dad's shadow as he told the BBC that he is carving an identity for himself after years of comparison with his father.

The 22 year-old was named the BBC African Footballer of the Year last Friday and is one of five players in the running for the CAF Footballer of the Year which will be named on Thursday.

"It's difficult to say that being the son of a legend is a help - perhaps it's the other way round - but it is something that pushes you on," he says. "People always try to compare but luckily for me, my dad has seen a lot of things in his life and can advise very well.

"It's good for me to get all that advice and become a better player, because I can learn from him, but there was also a difficult part - which I think is now behind me - when people were expecting that I would do like him or be better than him, which was complicated.

"Today, bit by bit, I am moving away from that and proving that I can fight to be the best - that's my big honour."