Former Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu believes captain Andre Dede Ayew is too experienced to be overly affected by his omission from the latest squad released by Head Coach Otto Addo.
Agyemang-Badu, who played with Ayew at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009 through several AFCONs, says the future outcome of the decision by the gaffer will tell if it is right or wrong.
Captain Ayew is among the key players left out of the 26-man squad announced by Addo on Wednesday, May 29.
The former Dortmund talent coach explained that before he reached the decision, he had a “long” and “personal” talk with the captain.
“I had a long talk with Andre, personal, and I visited him and gave him the reasons why he is not in the squad,” he said, pointing out to journalists at the presser that he doesn’t fancy talking about players not in the squad but rather those called up.
In Ayew’s place, Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, who returns to the team after almost a year out through injury, will captain the team, in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mali and Central African Republic.
Speaking in an interview on Onua Sports Center on Onua FM on Wednesday, May 29, Agyemang-Badu said Ayew has been “fantastic” in his over-18-year involvement with the Black Stars.
“We don’t know what transpired when the coach met him,” he confessed to host Alfred Takyi Mensah.
“We don’t know whether our brother has taken it in good faith,” he added.
But the former Asante Kotoko midfielder says the Dede Ayew he knows will take the decision in good faith.
“I know Andre Ayew is a very experienced guy and he will take it in good faith.”
On Baba Abdul-Rahman, another in-form player overlooked by the gaffer, Agyemang-Badu said the PAOK FC defender has really suffered and needs to be respected for the decision he has taken.
“Baba has really suffered in the national team.”
He was full of praise for Rahman, who is said to have declined an invitation to return to the team.
Agyemang-Badu said the former Schalke 04 player was frank and sincere with his feelings and most of the players, past and present, are not that bold to be frank.
“That is why I like Baba. He has been very frank. . .let’s respect his decision.”
