2025 AFCON qualifiers: Otto Addo stresses Black Stars 'door never closed' on Andre Ayew
Otto Addo and Andre Dede Ayew
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has once again spoken to the media about his choice to leave Andre Ayew out of the squad for the important 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
Read full articleThe former Borussia Dortmund talent coach has not included the Le Havre forward since the international friendlies against Uganda and Nigeria in March 2024.
Despite Ayew's continued absence, Addo reassured that the 34-year-old veteran still has a chance to return to the national team.
“The doors are never closed. I look at the performance,” he stated when questioned about Ayew, after initially indicating he would not discuss the matter further.
Ayew was first omitted from the Black Stars for the June 2024 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic. At that time, Addo traveled to France to explain Ayew's exclusion, although Ayew did not accept the reasoning provided.
"I had a long chat with Andre and gave him the reason why he is not in the squad," Addo mentioned. "I talk to players directly and I don't like to put information out about what we spoke about. This is the decision we took and it's not like he necessarily agreed, but I still have big respect for him."
Looking ahead, Ghana will face Angola on Friday, November 15, 2024, at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, followed by a match against Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, November 18.
Currently, Ghana is in third place in Group F with two points from four matches, trailing second-placed Sudan by five points and group leaders Angola by ten.
To keep their qualification hopes alive, the Black Stars must win both matches and rely on Sudan to falter in their remaining games.
