Sports Minister Kofi Adams has thrown his weight behind André Ayew, describing the Black Stars captain as a uniquely seasoned figure who transcends the conventional role of a footballer — someone whose influence straddles both the dressing room and the pitch.
Speaking during a studio interview with Countryman Songo on Asempa FM on Friday, Adams said he would not be surprised to see the veteran attacker included in Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that Dede Ayew’s value to the national team extends well beyond what the statistics can capture.
“Dede Ayew is like a player cum coach. He is one of Ghana’s greatest players. When he is added to the World Cup squad, I would not be surprised,” the Sports Minister said.
Adams’ endorsement positions Ayew not merely as a squad option, but as a living repository of international football experience — a man who has led Ghana through the crucible of multiple Africa Cup of Nations campaigns and FIFA World Cup stages, and whose presence in camp carries the weight of those battles.
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The comments are likely to reignite one of Ghanaian football’s most persistent debates. Ayew, a former standout at Marseille and West Ham United, has not been immune to criticism from sections of the supporter base in recent years, with some questioning whether it is time to draw a line under his international career and look to the next generation. Yet his advocates — and the Sports Minister is clearly among them — insist that what the former Swansea City and Al Sadd man brings to a tournament environment simply cannot be replicated by youth alone.
As Ghana prepares to navigate the final stages of its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and tournament build-up, the question of André Ayew’s place in the picture — and how much runway remains in one of African football’s most storied careers — is set to dominate conversation among fans and selectors alike.