Audio By Carbonatix
In 2012, during the last confrontation between Ghana and Tunisia at AFCON, Andre Ayew won the game for the Black Stars by scoring the winning goal in the quarter-final against Carthage Eagles. Seven years later, the captain of Ghana wants to cross the Tunisian hurdle again. For Ayew, Ghana "is hungry for a trophy".
Having a father as a football legend is difficult for some players to take on. But among the Ayew family, direct descendants of Abedi Pelé, it is a key element.
Unstoppable support for his boys, the former CAF Player of the Year has been able to transmit his passion. Andre, a copy of his father also followed his footsteps as a midfielder.
When Andre talks about the golden generation that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1982, along with Abedi Pelé and current coach James Kwesi Appiah, someone he admires. "These are different times but they have advised us to stay calm and to have no regrets ".
The years when young Andre seemed frail are now behind him. Thanks to a rich experience of more than ten years, the Turkey-based player has made his way to the captaincy of the Black Stars.
He joined the national team at a very young age. Starting first at the U-20 level, before his promotion to the first team in 2007, then under the captaincy of Stephen Appiah, now Team Manager of the current technical staff. In a few years, the young man has grown to become a man who makes a bold declaration at every tournament. As captain of the Black Stars, the 29-year-old works in the continuity of his predecessors.
"We have to have to stay calm to hold this. Our country loves football so much that there is a lot of pressure on the players, the federation and the coach, but I think I have to keep doing my job, which is to lead the team also in my own way. I learnt a lot from seniors such as Stephen Appiah, John Mensah and Asamoah Gyan. I try to apply their leadership techniques to mine. "
The atmosphere in the group is "perfect," he says. With the younger ones, the integration was done in a natural way. Having the opportunity to evolve with your brother is a bonus for the older brother. Often together at the same club, (Olympique Marseille and Swansea City) or in Ghana Black Stars, the complementarity of the brothers could be observed over the matches.
Andre knows that Ghana is "hungry for a trophy". The next match against Tunisia will be tough. "I had the opportunity to play several AFCON editions; the group stages and the knockout phase are two different things, and that's when you lose and you go home."
In 2012, the opportunist Andre was the hero of the Ghana - Tunisia quarter-final clash. During the extra time, as the two teams struggled to break the tie, the midfielder took advantage of goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi's blunder to score Ghana's winning goal. Can the Ghanaian captain pull his team again to victory? The answer this Monday, July 8th.
Latest Stories
-
Gov’t challenges ABL’s claim that beer tax changes threaten 2,000 jobs
16 minutes -
Ghana’s small businesses don’t have a marketing problem. They have a capacity problem.
20 minutes -
GNFS intensifies fire safety campaigns across Eastern Region
21 minutes -
One dead and more than a dozen missing after ‘terrifying’ flash flood hits Grand Canyon
31 minutes -
Full Report: SIGA releases 2025 State Ownership Report on performance of state entities
36 minutes -
Messi retires from international football
40 minutes -
Accra Institute of Technology holds 22nd graduation as 572 students graduate and PhD alumni surpass 100
41 minutes -
Metro Mass Transit returns to profit as revenue rises to GH¢161.85m
45 minutes -
Barcola joins Liverpool from PSG in £123m move
48 minutes -
GOIL profit rises to GH¢90.67m despite 9% revenue decline
51 minutes -
Aid system is broken, African Civil Society leaders say; 200 gather in Accra to build a new Africa-Led model
55 minutes -
TrustGH records more than 6,000 ‘scam’ numbers as TikTok emerges a major fraud channel in Accra, Ghana
56 minutes -
SIGA proposes liquidation of Ghana Railway Company and absorption of staff into GRDA
56 minutes -
FWSC boss steals show at JoySports Invitational with CEOs Penalty thriller
1 hour -
Ghanaian dogs sweep top honours at West African August classic dog show
1 hour