The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has expressed delight at the return of the Ayew brothers to the national team but insist they must officially inform the football governing body of their decision to end their international retirement.
Last Tuesday Andre and Jordan Ayew announced their unconditional return to the Black Stars from their self-imposed exile after a meeting with President John Mahama at the seat of government in Accra.
GFA’s Director of Communications, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, says the football controlling body is happy about their return but the brothers must officially communicate their return to the team in writing just as they formally wrote to the FA to announce their withdrawal.
“We are very happy with the turn of event. We want to thank President John Mahama for intervening,” Sannie Daara told Accra-based Peace FM last Wednesday.
“We are yet to receive official communication to that effect.
“We are thrilled with their decision, but it’s the prerogative of the coach to invite them for future assignments.”
The Marseille duo have not played for the national team since they were excluded from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Unhappy over their controversial exclusion and alleged sour relationship with the football authorities, the players announced their decision to withdraw their services temporarily from Kwasi Appiah’s team.
Andre, who was dropped from Coach Appiah’s final Nations Cup squad after failing to beat the deadline to report to the Stars’ training camp in Abu-Dhabi, claimed his relationship with some Black Stars management committee members had thawed hence his decision to walk out of the team last February. His younger brother, Jordan, was miffed about his omission from even the provisional squad as he believed he deserved a place in the team on account of his performance for Marseille and the national team.
Even though there had been behind-the-scene moves to get the midfield duo to rescind their decision, it was not until their meeting with the head of state at the Flagstaff House in the presence of Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, and GFA vice president, Fred Crentsil, that the returnee players announced their availability for future national assignments.
Andre, who has played in only one World Cup qualifier so far, told football website goal.com he was eager to help Ghana qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“any Ghanaian who wears the national jersey gives of his best to the country, so I think there are no conditions; it’s just that we look for the best for our nation and I am happy to be back.”
“All that I am hoping to do is to complement the efforts of my teammates and help the team qualify for next year’s World Cup.”
