Head coach Otto Addo is reportedly preparing to omit veteran forward Andre Ayew from the Ghana national football team squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Austria national football team and Germany national football team.
According to media reports, the Black Stars technical bench has decided against recalling the experienced attacker as preparations intensify for the global showpiece later this year.
Ayew, now 36, only recently returned to active football after spending six months without a club following his departure from Le Havre AC. The former Ghana captain subsequently signed for Dutch outfit NAC Breda, who are battling to avoid relegation.
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Since arriving in the Netherlands as a free agent, Ayew has managed one goal in ten appearances. His return to club football reignited debate among fans and pundits regarding the experienced forward’s potential return to the national team.
The last time Ayew wore the Black Stars jersey was during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, a tournament that ended in disappointment for Ghana after a group-stage elimination.
Despite the calls for a comeback, indications suggest Addo and his backroom staff are ready to look elsewhere as they shape the squad for the upcoming assignments. The staff will likely release the official squad list for the March friendlies later this week.
Ghana’s first test will come against Austria at the iconic Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on Friday, March 27, 2026, with kickoff set for 17:00 GMT.
The Black Stars will then travel to Stuttgart to take on four-time world champions Germany on Monday, March 30.
Both matches contribute to Ghana’s preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly stage.
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Additional warm-up fixtures have already been lined up, with Ghana scheduled to face Mexico national football team in May before meeting Wales national football team on June 2.
At the World Cup itself, the Black Stars have been placed in Group L alongside the Panama national football team, England national football team, and Croatia national football team. Ghana will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, face England six days later, and round off the group stage against Croatia on June 27.
After early exits in the 2014 and 2022 editions of the tournament, the four-time African champions will be hoping for a far more convincing run when the competition kicks off in North America.
