Dede Ayew excluded from squad for Mali and Central African Republic qualifiers

Black Stars skipper, Andre Dede Ayew, has reportedly been excluded from the squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR).

Coach Otto Addo is set to unveil his squad for the qualifiers today, Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Media reports suggest that Ayew, who plays for Le Havre in the French Ligue 1, will not be part of the team for the doubleheader.

An Angel FM report indicates that Ayew was not invited by Addo, despite his five goals for Le Havre in the just-concluded season.

The credibility of the report is bolstered by a list published by Le Havre, which lists their players on national duty in June. Notably absent from the list is the Black Stars skipper.

This reported exclusion aligns with Addo’s alleged new direction for the team. Recent meetings with senior players like Thomas Partey and Daniel Amartey suggest a shift towards nurturing younger talents and reducing reliance on older players.

While some veterans may still feature in the squad for the Mali and CAR matches, their roles are expected to diminish in future selections.

The ‘new’ Black Stars team is anticipated to feature Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United prominently, along with rising talents like Antoine Semenyo and Kamaldeen Sulemana.

The Black Stars will take on Mali in Bamako on June 6, followed by a match against the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on June 10.