Ghana vs Chad, Mali: Otto Addo Delivers Strong Statement to Andre Ayew
- There was no spot for 120-capped Ghana international Andre Ayew in Otto Addo's latest World Cup qualifiying squad
- Otto Addo has indirectly sent a strong message to Ghana U20 FIFA World Cup hero in his recent selection
- Addo's men have two crucial games coming up next month as they seek to atone for their sins of missing out on the 2025 AFCON
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Head coach of the Black Stars of Ghana Otto has sent a bold signal to veteran Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew following Tuesday's squad announcement for the upcoming games against Chad and Mali.
The four-time African champions take on Chad on Thursday, September 4 at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno during Matchday Seven of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. For Matchweek Eight, the Black Stars host Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 8, in what is expected to be a fiercely contested meeting between the two West African rivals.
Source: Getty Images
On Tuesday, Otto Addo unveiled a 24-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali. The list includes familiar faces like new Villarreal signing Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Gideon Mensah, Antoine Semenyo, and Iñaki Williams.
Derrick Arthur Köhn of Union Berlin has received his maiden call-up after an impressive stint at Werder Bremen. The 26-year-old joined Union Berlin this summer from Galatasaray, following a productive loan spell at Bremen, where he registered 27 Bundesliga appearances and scored two goals.
Kamal Deen Sulemana also returns to the team after completing a move from Southampton to Serie A outfit Atalanta, where he has made a bright start. French-based midfielder Elisha Owusu is back in the squad after recovering from a long-term injury.
Young prospect Caleb Yirenkyi, who impressed at the Unity Cup in London, has earned his first senior call-up thanks to his fine displays for FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark. Defender Tariq Lamptey reclaims his spot, while Christopher Bonsu Baah and Ireland-based goalkeeper Joseph Anang are also part of the group for the crucial double-header.
Otto Addo's clear message to Andre Ayew
However, as generally expected, there was no place for Andre Ayew, who has 120 caps and 24 goals for the Ghana national football team, according to Wikipedia.
Consistent snubs hint that Otto Addo has moved on from the star player, who is currently without a club after leaving Le Havre. According to Flashscore, Ayew last featured for Ghana in the 2-2 friendly against Uganda on March 26, 2024, missing out on the team's last 10 matches since that date.
Source: Getty Images
Ghana, who failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), currently leads Group I of the African qualifiers with 15 points, having won five of their six matches so far, with Comoros following closely with 12 points.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars squad for the Chad and Mali games includes Lawrence Ati Zigi (St. Gallen), Joseph Anang (St. Patrick's Athletic), Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak), Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre), Derrick Arthur Köhn (Union Berlin), Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco), Jerome Opoku (İstanbul Başakşehir), Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahçe), and Jonas Adjetey (FC Basel).
Other selected players are Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjaelland), Elisha Owusu (AJ Auxerre), Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur), Ibrahim Osman (AJ Auxerre), Ibrahim Sulemana (Atalanta BC), Thomas Partey (Villarreal CF), Abdul Salis Samed (OGC Nice), Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta BC), Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy), Jerry Afriyie (RAAL La Louvière), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al-Qadsiah), and Iñaki Williams (Athletic Club).
Reason behind Andre Ayew’s omission
Earlier, YEN.com.gh detailed the factors that led to Andre Ayew’s exclusion from the Black Stars squad for March’s World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
The Black Stars were in fine form, hammering Chad 5-0 at home and brushing aside Madagascar 3-0 in Morocco as the 2011 BBC African Player of the Year was absent.
Source: YEN.com.gh
