Andre Ayew looks set to lead the Black Stars this weekend when Maxwell Konadu’s side take on the Cranes of Uganda in a 2015 Nations Cup group qualifier in Kampala and against Togo next week, following the absence of the team’s substantive captain through injury.
And the absence of experienced players, such as the AC Milan duo of Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari, both suspended, and injured Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, makes Ayew the most suitable candidate to be handed the captain’s armband in the important qualifier, which Ghana needs a win to seal qualification to next year’s Nations Cup.
Long touted as a future captain of the Stars in recognition of his leadership qualities on the field, having captained Ghana to win the FIFA Under-20 Championship in 2009, the Olympique Marseille midfielder takes up a huge responsibility as team leader for the penultimate qualifying match at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
The 24-year-old, who scored Ghana’s equalising goal against Uganda in Kumasi last September and again struck in the team’s 2-1 home win over Guinea last month, leads a side depleted also by the absence of his younger brother, Jordan, who is suspended from the Uganda match, but expected to return next week against Togo.
Except for the substantive captain and the suspended Milan duo, the Marseille star is currently the most experienced player in the national team having represented Ghana in three African Nations Cup and two FIFA World Cup tournaments. He has scored eight goals – four this year -- in 56 appearances since making his international debut seven years ago.
A toddler when his legendary father Abedi Pele first captained the national team at the 1992 Nations Cup in Senegal, Ayew joined his teammates as they began preparation at the Accra stadium yesterday afternoon ahead of the team’s departure for Kampala tomorrow.
Stand-in coach, Konadu, supervised his first training session with almost the full complement of his players in attendance at the afternoon workout.
Players who trained yesterday included the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, goalkeepers Fatau Dauda, Razak Braimah and Stephen Adams, Baba Rahman, Harrison Afful, Awal Mohammed, Abdul Majeed Waris, Edwin Gyimah, Mubarak Wakaso, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, John Boye and Stephen Adams.
