Black Stars coach Otto Addo is set to announce his squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR) today, Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
Reports indicate that team captain Andre Dede Ayew has been excluded from the lineup for the doubleheader.
According to Angel FM, Ayew, who concluded the French Ligue 1 season with five goals for Le Havre, was not invited by Addo.
The credibility of these reports is bolstered by a list published by Le Havre, detailing players called up for national duty in June.
This list includes Toure Abdoulaye of Guinea, Sangate Arouna of Senegal, Daler Kuzyaev of Russia, Nego Loic of Hungary, Kone Mohamed, and Operi Christopher of Ivory Coast, but notably omits Ayew.
The omission of Ayew is believed to align with Otto Addo’s new strategy for the team.
Addo recently held discussions with senior players such as Thomas Partey, Andre Ayew, and Daniel Amartey to outline his vision for the team’s future.
Addo plans to gradually reduce reliance on veteran players and focus on developing younger talents.
While some experienced players will still feature in the upcoming qualifiers, their involvement is expected to decrease in future selections.
The revamped Black Stars squad is likely to be led by Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United, with significant contributions from Antoine Semenyo, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Tariq Lamptey, among others.
Black Stars will face Mali in Bamako on June 6, followed by a match against the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on June 10.