The question of whether André Dede Ayew has played his last game for the Black Stars remains unanswered, and according to the Ghana Football Association’s Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, only one man can provide that answer: head coach Otto Addo.
Speaking to the media, Asante Twum made it clear that while the GFA holds deep respect and appreciation for the former Olympique Marseille forward, the association’s hands are tied when it comes to determining his fate in the national team setup.
“At the end of the day, the coach makes the final decision. The FA can only make an input,” he said, drawing a firm line between the federation’s advisory role and the technical team’s authority.
Asante Twum was full of praise for Ayew’s storied career with the Black Stars, acknowledging the immense legacy the veteran attacker has built over the years. From leading the team as captain to representing Ghana through the youth ranks, Ayew’s contributions, in the GFA’s eyes, are beyond question.
“What he has contributed to the nation is enormous. His leadership qualities are absolutely amazing, from the youth teams to the Black Stars. He has played over 100 matches and is currently one of our top scorers in history,” Asante Twum said.
The comments come amid a growing public debate over Ayew’s exclusion from the Black Stars squad named by Otto Addo for upcoming friendly matches against Austria and Germany. Many football fans have been vocal in their calls for the experienced forward’s recall, but Asante Twum acknowledged that passion while firmly redirecting it toward the man in the dugout.
“So the records are many. You can point to different reasons why André must be called. But in the end, the power lies with one person. He calls the shots, he makes the decisions, and he settles on the players. And at this point, these are the players Otto wants to work with. Nobody knows what will happen,” he stated.
Asante Twum also urged patience, noting that the football season still has considerable runway before any definitive conclusions can be drawn about World Cup squad selections. With the 2025/2026 season running through to the end of May, he noted that much can still change.
“The season is still ongoing until the end of May. We’ve got all of April and the first two weeks of May to close the 2025/2026 season. So I cannot speak too much about the future. I can only talk about today,” he added.
For now, Dede Ayew watches from the sidelines as his international future hangs in the balance. The provisional Black Stars FIFA World Cup squad is expected to be released in May, with the final squad to be submitted in June 2026, leaving the door neither firmly open nor completely shut for one of Ghana’s greatest footballers.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com