Kwesi Appiah Once Considered Dropping Ayew Brothers and Wakaso – Ernest Thompson
Former Black Stars Management Committee member Ernest Thompson has disclosed a past incident where former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah considered dropping Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, and Mubarak Wakaso from the national team.
According to Thompson, the situation was resolved through the intervention of the Black Stars Management Committee, which played a crucial mediating role.
“At a point in time, Kwasi Appiah had problems with Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, and Wakaso. You remember that incident. Go back to history. He [Kwasi Appiah] wanted to drop them. He said he had dropped them. I’m telling you the truth now,” Thompson revealed in an interview with Joy Sports.
The Ghana Football Association had dissolved the Black Stars Management Committee on November 22 after the national team’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. Reflecting on their tenure, Thompson highlighted how the committee navigated delicate situations like this one to maintain harmony in the team.
He explained that the committee had persuaded Appiah to reconsider his stance, particularly emphasizing the legacy of the Ayew brothers’ father, Abedi Pele, a Ghanaian football icon.
“We [the management committee] said, look, because of Jordan, Andre, and particularly their father Abedi [Pele], who is an icon, if you had problems with them in the team, we plead with you to go and see Abedi [Pele] and speak to Abedi because you can’t treat Abedi’s children that way. Let the father know, and see if the father can intervene.”
Thompson added that efforts by Alhaji Hearts, a key figure at the time, helped smooth relations. “It took Alhaji Hearts, who we called to also go and speak to the boys about Kwasi Appiah’s concerns. Later on, Kwasi Appiah agreed, brought them back, and they came to save the team,” he recounted.
He concluded by stressing the critical but often overlooked role of the management committee. “The management team does a good work provided they stay within their purview,” Thompson stated.
