Black Stars coach Otto Addo has chosen not to reveal the reasons behind his decision to exclude captain André Dede Ayew from the squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic.
Addo announced his 26-man squad for the upcoming doubleheader on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, with Ayew’s absence being a significant talking point.
When asked about the decision, Addo explained that he had a lengthy conversation with Ayew about the omission.
Despite Ayew’s disagreement with the decision, Addo emphasized that he still holds the skipper in high regard.
“I had a long talk with André and gave him the reasons why he is not in the squad. I talk to players directly and don’t like to disclose information about our discussions. This is the decision we took, and it’s not like he necessarily agreed, but I still have great respect for him,” Addo stated.
The Black Stars will be hosted at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako on June 6 before hosting Central African Republic on June 10 at the Baba Yara Stadium.
