Black Stars: Otto Addo speaks to ‘unhappy’ Jordan Ayew

Ghana’s national team coach, Otto Addo, has recently met with Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew to address issues from the last international break, as the Black Stars prepare for the crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Ghana’s October matches against Sudan stirred controversy within the Black Stars camp. In the first leg, hosted at the Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana managed only a goalless draw.

The second leg, held in Libya, ended in a 2-0 defeat for Ghana. This disappointing outcome puts Ghana, a four-time AFCON champion, at risk of missing the tournament in Morocco next year.

With senior players Andre Ayew and Thomas Partey unavailable for the Sudan games, Otto Addo appointed West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus as team captain, bypassing Jordan Ayew. This decision reportedly left Jordan Ayew dissatisfied, creating tensions within the camp.

Reports from the UK suggest that Otto Addo traveled to Leicester recently to meet Ayew and discuss the situation. “Ghana coach Otto Addo went to speak to Jordan Ayew this week in Leicester,” noted UK-based Ghanaian journalist Rahman Osman on Facebook.

“Jordan wasn’t happy with some things in camp during the last international break. So Otto Addo went there to speak and explain things to him and why he took some decisions.”

Looking ahead, Ghana faces Angola and Niger in their final Group F games. The Black Stars will play Angola away in Luanda on November 15, followed by a home match against Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 18, 2024.

For Ghana to qualify for AFCON 2025, they must secure victories in both games while relying on Sudan to drop points against the same opponents. This scenario is Ghana’s last hope for advancing to next year’s tournament in Morocco.