Jordan Ayew has been named the new captain of the Black Stars for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group F qualifiers against Angola and Niger, head coach Otto Addo confirmed.
This decision comes after Mohammed Kudus’ leadership in the previous double-header against Sudan, which ended in disappointing results for Ghana with a 0-0 home draw and a 2-0 away loss.
Explaining the change, Addo expressed confidence in Ayew’s experience, saying, “Jordan Ayew will captain the Black Stars in Thomas Partey’s absence, as I believe Mohammed Kudus still has a lot to learn to be a captain.” Ayew, who recently showcased his scoring abilities with a hat-trick against the Central African Republic in the World Cup qualifiers, now has the opportunity to lead Ghana toward crucial victories in the AFCON qualifiers.
The 25-man squad also features three standout home-based players: Isaac Afful (FC Samartex 1996), Razak Simpson (Nations FC), and Emmanuel Antwi (Asante Kotoko), who have impressed in the ongoing Ghana Premier League season. Antwi, a 24-year-old former Accra Great Olympics player, has played an instrumental role for the Porcupine Warriors, making nine appearances, scoring once, and earning one Man of the Match award.
Ghana must secure wins against Angola and Niger to qualify for the Morocco 2025 tournament, while also hoping that Sudan drops points in their final matches. The Black Stars are set to play Angola in Luanda on Friday, November 15, before returning to face Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, November 18, 2024.