Otto Addo Defends Jordan Ayew After Frustrating Display Against Nigeria in World Cup Play Off

Otto Addo Defends Jordan Ayew After Frustrating Display Against Nigeria in World Cup Play Off

Isaac Darko
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:59 PM
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  • Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has heaped praises on Jordan Ayew after his frustrating display against the Super Eagles
  • Ayew was booed off by supporters at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium when Ghana played host to Nigeria in the World Cup play-offs
  • Ghana played out an exciting goalless draw with West African rivals Nigeria in the first leg of the crucial World Cup final eliminator

Ghana coach Otto Addo has jumped to the defense of Jordan Ayew following his performance during the World Cup qualifier against Nigeria on Friday night.

Ghana and Nigeria will have another 90 minutes to decide which team qualifies for the World Cup after a pulsating goalless draw in the first leg of the play-offs in Kumasi.

Ayew was jeered by the home crowd in the dying embers of the game as coach Otto Addo sought to inject firepower in his attack.

Otto Addo, Jordan Ayew, Nigeria, Ghana, Black Stars, Super Eagles, 2022 World Cup
Otto Addo defends Jordan Ayew after display against Nigeria in World Cup play-off. Credit: @samuello
Source: Twitter

But reacting to the unfortunate incident during his post-match presser, Addo was impressed with the performance of the Crystal Palace forward, saying:

The booing I think is for me, no problem. I think it's normal. Jordan played well, had a very good performance, especially in the first half.
A lot of one against ones, at the end, I don't know if they don't see it but he was tired and what they might not know.

How did Jordan perform against Nigeria?

Before he was subbed off, Jordan - the younger brother of Black Stars captain Andre Ayew - struggled to leave a positive mark in the game as he was kept in check by the Nigerian defence despite occasionally darting with the ball, which yielded no positive dividends.

He was on set-piece duties for Ghana. However, his technique and execution was a far cry to the heavy expectations of the supporters.

Jordan Ayew Jeered by Home Crowd

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that The disaffection for Ghana international and Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew has reached a dizzying height.

Supporters in the football-crazy country have over a period of time singled out the former Olympique Marseille man as a liability to the senior men's national team, Black Stars.

Despite the public outcry for his exclusion from the Black Stars squad, the 30-year-old attacker has always found favour in the eyes of the technical handlers.

Authors
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Isaac Darko
Isaac Darko is a La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga editor at Sports Brief with a Degree in Journalism and Communications from Ghana Institute of Journalism (2010)
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