Black Stars coach, Otto Addo
Ace sports journalist Countryman Songo has once again berated Black Stars coach Otto Addo over his treatment of skipper Andre Dede Ayew.
Countryman Songo believes that Otto Addo’s decision to freeze Dede Ayew from the team is reprehensible and not in the interest of the team.
Songo holds that Dede Ayew and Jordan Ayew are being mistreated in the team because some persons allegedly have issues with their father, Abedi Ayew Pele.
“The treatment of Dede Ayew is not normal and it goes beyond football. Initially, Otto Addo said he wouldn’t need him for the two World Cup qualifiers. We have played AFCON qualifiers and Dede Ayew is still out of the team.
“Some people are using Dede Ayew to pay back somebody. Dede Ayew is still strong. He was suffering from a surgery he did at West Ham but he’s back and fit now. He is out because of the bad politics people are doing in the team. They are making all forms of allegations against him. They are using the coach to do their bidding,” he told Pipapipa TV.
Dede Ayew has been out of the Black Stars since June, missing out on games in both the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
When quizzed about his decision not to call up Dede Ayew in September, Otto Addo stated that he was making decisions that he believes will help the team in the long term.
“Like I said the last time, we have to look a little bit further, we have to look to the next AFCON but also if the Lord permits we might qualify for the (2026) World Cup also for that so we are looking at one, two, three years ahead and we have to build a squad for that.
“I said it the last time, the reasons why we chose some younger players or some other players to come into the squad. I think we did quite well the last time even though it was very tough. We are looking to long-term development and that’s why we decided, also last time, not to invite Andre (Ayew).”
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