Following Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, captain Jordan Ayew highlighted the importance of securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With Ghana out of the upcoming continental competition, Otto Addo’s team faces increased pressure to qualify for the World Cup.
“There’s pressure playing for Ghana,” Ayew admitted in an interview with BBC Sport Africa. “We can’t stop people from criticism” it’s part of the game. When the results are not there, the manager and the players get the backlash.”
Four goals from the Leicester City forward have been key to Ghana’s successful qualification campaign. He’s Ghana’s top scorer in the qualifiers, thanks to his three goals against the Central African Republic in Kumasi last June. With five goals apiece through four rounds, only Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet have scored more.
Ayew’s brother, André, has been dropped from the squad for the qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar, leading to Ayew taking the captaincy.
The 33-year-old admitted that leading Ghana is a huge responsibility, but he’s confident the team can qualify for the World Cup.
“With our quality, we need to qualify for the World Cup,” he stated. “Hopefully, from these two games, we can show a good image of ourselves and turn things around.”
With four games played, Ghana has nine points and is in third place in Group I. Ghana will host Chad in Kumasi this Friday, then travel to Madagascar for the next game.
Partey, Kudus, and Semenyo boost Ghana’s qualification hopes; Ayew is confident of securing consecutive victories.