2026 WC Qualifiers: “Andre is our captain, he has different values.” – Chris Hughton on Ayew’s inclusion

Black Stars Skipper Andre Ayew has been the most famous footballer on the lips of almost every Ghanaian in the last couple of months.

Ayew, is the most capped player for the national [115], having scored 24 goals in that period and was included in Chris Hughton’s 25-man squad called up for the doubleheader against Madagascar and Comoros in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Ayew has been inactive for some months now, after leaving Nottingham Forest as a free agent last season.

However, the Black Stars skipper has found a new team in the French Ligue, Le Havre where he signed for them on Saturday.

Hughton was quizzed on Ayew’s inclusion in the squad despite the player’s inactivity.

“Andre is our captain, he has different values.”

“I could tell you that the two days of training we’ve had is similar to the training we had in September.”

“When you see him on the training pitch, this is someone without a club, but he is training every day.”

“Maybe the circumstances will be different from a different type of individual, but he is our captain, he adds value to what he can give us on the pitch, what he can show on the pitch.”

“He has something that we have not spoken so much about so much, we have a lot of young players in the squad, and a lot of young players means a lot of inexperience.”

“Andre has leadership qualities, he has values and he’s our captain”