Jordan Ayew is the captain of the Black Stars
Jordan Ayew’s career with the Black Stars has not been devoid of criticism. For most of his tenure with the team, Jordan has faced scrutiny with his consistency, leadership, and ability to perform on the grandest stages often questioned.
For many fans, he was perceived as lacking commitment to the Black Stars, with calls for his exclusion from the team echoing over the years.
With Ghana missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and struggling in recent times, the team desperately needed a leader to lift them out of their slump and the mantle fell on no other person than the third son of the legendary Abedi Pele—Jordan Ayew
The Leicester City forward was handed the captain’s armband to lead the Black Stars in their games against Chad and Madagascar on March 21 and March 24, 2025, respectively and Jordan silenced the doubters in style.
Leading by example, Jordan stepped up when it mattered most, scoring once and providing four assists across two stellar performances.
But make no mistake, Jordan’s impact goes beyond these two games. He has consistently been Ghana’s go-to man for inspiration throughout the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Following the Black Stars’ loss to Comoros in November 2023, the team could not afford to drop any more points if they wanted to qualify for the World Cup.
However, the Black Stars found themselves on the brink of losing points against Mali, trailing 1-0 at halftime and drawing 1-1 in the 90th minute until Jordan intervened.
Coming on as a substitute, Jordan needed only ten minutes to make his mark, bundling the ball into the net in the dying moments to secure all three points for the Black Stars.
Four days later, he was pivotal once more in the Black Stars’ thrilling 4-3 victory against the Central African Republic. Jordan’s hat-trick turned the game on its head, ensuring a comeback win after trailing 2-1 at halftime.
That victory saw Ghana tied with Comoros on nine points at the top of the standings, with their fate now firmly in their own hands.
The pressure was on the embattled Otto Addo to select a squad capable of winning the decisive matches against Chad and Madagascar on March 21 and March 24, respectively and he named Jordan as the leader of the 23-man team for both games.
Jordan, however, played a pivotal role in reigniting hope and driving the team to crucial victories. This time, he didn’t just lead by example on the pitch, he took control, dictating the team’s approach and ensuring cohesion.
Against Chad, he scored a penalty to secure Ghana’s third goal and set up Ernest Nuamah with a silky backheel for the fifth, propelling the Black Stars to a two-point lead at the top of the standings.
The 33-year-old wasn’t finished. Against Madagascar on Monday, March 24, 2025, he once again showed his class, assisting all three of the Black Stars’ goals.
The first assist came from a free-kick, the second from a corner, and the third from a carefully orchestrated build-up play that set up Mohammed Kudus.
In these two critical matches against Chad and Madagascar, Jordan was instrumental, directly contributing to five goals— scoring one and providing four assists.
His impressive form places him second on the goal-king chart, with five goals in five games. Overall, Jordan has been the driving force behind the Black Stars‘ quest for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
FKA/EK
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