Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Eric Edem Agbana, believes veteran forward Andre Ayew deserves a place in Ghana national football team squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
With less than 100 days to the tournament and anticipation building over the final squad list, Agbana says Ayew’s years of dedication and service to Ghana should be recognised.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, March 9, the MP stressed that while the final decision rests with head coach Otto Addo, loyalty and commitment to the national team must also be considered when selecting players.’
“I always say the coach should be allowed to make the best decision,” Agbana said.
“But if you ask me, we need to reward sacrifice, hard work and loyalty. That should count. Andre Ayew has shown enormous commitment to the Black Stars and I believe he should be included.”
The MP also pointed out that the 36-year-old forward is still performing at club level and recently found the back of the net, showing he remains competitive despite questions surrounding his age.
Agbana drew parallels with past World Cup selections, referencing the case of former Ghana winger Laryea Kingston, who missed out on playing at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups despite playing a key role in Ghana’s qualification campaigns.
“One of my regrets from the 2006 and 2010 World Cups is that Laryea Kingston did not get the chance to play. He fought very hard during qualification and I believe he should have been included even with the challenges he faced,” he said.
Agbana also expressed reservations about players who previously declined invitations to represent Ghana but later seek opportunities with the national team.
“Personally, I don’t support players who rejected Ghana in the past but later want to come back when things are going well. That is my personal view,” he added.
🎥 🇬🇭 “We need to reward sacrifice, hardwork and loyalty. Beyond his age, he’s actively playing just yesterday he scored a goal.”—Hon. Eric Edem Agbana calls for the inclusion of Andre Dede Ayew into the Black Stars for the World Cup.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/iujdwaC0QO
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) March 9, 2026
Ayew, Ghana’s most capped player and former Black Stars captain, has remained one of the most experienced figures around the national team setup. His potential inclusion in the squad continues to spark debate among fans and analysts as coach Otto Addo prepares to name his final squad for the World Cup.
