Black Stars captain, Andre Dede Ayew, has stated that competing at the 2008 AFCON was one of the biggest moments in his life.
He said this during his speech delivered as a guest lecturer at the University of Ghana lecture on sports psychology. The program was led by psychology lecturer, Dr. Collins Agyemang Badu.
The veteran forward spoke extensively on the importance of sports psychology in the life of athletes at the elite stage to students of Ghana’s premier university and touched on his time competing for the Black Stars.
On the 2008 AFCON, that was held in Ghana and marked Dede Ayew’s debut international tournament, the former Olympique Marseille forward was effusive about the occasion.
“This was one of the biggest moments in my life. When you are young person, you have dreams and in one moment your dreams are fulfilled, there is nothing better at that moment and this (competing at the 2008 AFCON) was a great moment”.
He also spoke about how difficult it was after losing his second AFCON final in 2015 when Ghana lost to Cote D’Ivoire in a penalty shootout.
“It’s part of our sport, it’s part of the mental work. You’re human sometimes you have to fall down deep, wake up and go again.”
Ayew wasn’t involved in Ghana’s latest 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.