Former Ghana Premier League coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu has questioned whether veteran forward Andre Ayew should be part of the Ghana national football team squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, suggesting the time may have come for the experienced attacker to step aside for younger options.
Osei-Fosu’s comments follow recent remarks by Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams, who indicated he would not be surprised if the long-serving Black Stars captain finds himself included in the team for the global showpiece scheduled for June.
However, the former Ghanaian league tactician, who currently serves as an assistant coach with the Sudan national football team, believes the national team should now be looking firmly toward the future rather than relying on past heroes.
“He might be a very, very good player,” he said to the media. “But you ask yourself in this current setup, is he needed?”
“Is he needed? For me, no. Dede is my man, but for me, you leave when the applause is high.”
“Dede himself should let it go and then focus on his club football,” he added.
Kofi Adams: ‘Don’t be shocked if Andre Ayew makes Ghana’s World Cup squad’
Ayew, 34, recently signed for Dutch side NAC Breda as a free agent earlier this year and has already made an impact. The experienced attacker found the net in Sunday’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Eredivisie.
Despite his age, Ayew remains one of Ghana’s most accomplished footballers. The former Olympique de Marseille star has represented the Black Stars at four different World Cups and continues to keep the door open regarding his international future, having not officially retired from national duty.
Nevertheless, Osei-Fosu insists that squad selections should be determined by what the current team requires rather than by reputation or past achievements.
He pointed to Italian great Francesco Totti as an example of a player who made the decision to step away from international football in order to concentrate on club commitments.
“That’s why I like these white people. At one point, Totti was called up to the national team, but he said, ‘No, I want to focus on club football,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Black Stars head coach Otto Addo is expected to unveil Ghana’s final squad for the tournament on June 1 as preparations intensify for the 2026 World Cup.
