Former Ghana Premier League coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu has questioned the need for Andre Ayew to return to the Ghana national football team as debate continues over his possible inclusion in the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Sudan assistant coach believes the time may have come for Ayew to step aside and allow the national team to move forward with a new generation of players.
“He might be a very, very good player,” he said. “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 said in an interview with Luv FM.
His comments come after Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, said he would not be surprised to see Ayew included in Ghana’s squad for the World Cup in June.
Ayew, who joined NAC Breda as a free agent in January, was on the scoresheet on Sunday as his side played out a 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Eredivisie.
The 34-year-old remains one of Ghana’s most decorated footballers, having led the Black Stars to four World Cups, and he has not officially announced his retirement from international football.
However, Osei-Fosu believes national team decisions should be based on the team’s current needs rather than reputation.
According to him, stepping aside at the right time can help preserve a player’s legacy.
To support his argument, the former Dreams FC coach referenced Italian legend Francesco Totti, who once turned down a recall to the Italy national football team to focus on his club career.
“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.
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo is expected to announce the team’s final World Cup squad on June 1.
