Andre Ayew: Ghana Coach Otto Addo Opens Up on Dropping Black Stars Captain for World Cup Qualifiers

• Ghana coach, Otto Addo, has explained Andre Ayew's absence for upcoming ties
• The Black Stars captain was omitted from the squad for the World Cup qualifiers
• Ghana will take on Mali and the Central African Republic in the qualifiers in June

Black Stars coach, Otto Addo, has explained his decision to drop Andre Ayew for the upcoming games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Le Havre forward and Ghana captain was not included in the team for the matches against Mali and the Central African Republic in June.

Ayew, who had a strong finish to the season in Ligue 1, remains Ghana's all-time most-capped player and also holds the record for most appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations.

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According to Addo, he spoke to the veteran forward before deciding to leave him out of the squad and personally gave him reasons for excluding him.

"At the moment, I usually have it like this that I don't talk too much about players who are not in the squad but those in the squad," he told the press at the announcement of his squad, as spotted on social media.

"I talk to players directly and I don't like to give information out," he added. "He is not part of the squad at the moment. He is a legend for Ghana, What he has reached and made for Ghana. It is the most difficult decision and this is a decision we took."

Addo also expressed his respect for Ayew as a legend.

"He has achieved things few players have achieved. At the moment, as a coach I have to take decisions and the best decision is what I think for the team and this was one part of it."

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The Black Stars will travel to Bamako to play Mali on June 7 before engaging the Central African Republic in Kumasi on June 10, as reported by ESPN.

Otto Addo leaves out Ayew from Ghana squad

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ayew has been dropped by Ghana ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the CAR in June.

New Black Stars coach, Addo, named his squad for the two games, inviting two debutants in Ibrahim Sulemana and Brandon Thomas-Asante.

In a meeting with the press on Wednesday in Accra, the former Dortmund midfielder expressed delight in making a return to the national team.