Ghana captain Jordan Ayew has publicly thrown his support behind the current Black Stars squad, urging the technical team to resist the urge to make sweeping changes to the team as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an interview with Asempa FM, the Leicester City striker made a strong case for stability, arguing that the players who navigated the qualifying campaign have proven their worth and deserve the chance to lead the country on football’s biggest stage.
Ayew’s comments come on the heels of a successful World Cup qualification run. While acknowledging the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the forward insisted that the squad has shown progress under head coach Otto Addo. He emphasized that the growing bond and understanding between the players are key factors that should not be jeopardized by introducing too many new faces.
“The players who featured during the qualifiers have done extremely well,” Ayew stated. “I don’t think we need any additions at this point. I believe we have a good team, and as time goes on, we are continuously improving.”
He elaborated on the positive atmosphere within the camp, pointing to the increasing unity as a sign that the team is moving in the right direction. “The unity is getting better and everything is improving. I don’t think this is the right time to make changes,” he added.
Ayew himself has been a pivotal figure in Ghana’s journey to the World Cup, contributing an impressive 14 goal involvements during the qualifiers. His personal form and leadership on the pitch lend weight to his perspective on team cohesion.
His remarks add a voice to a current public debate regarding whether the Ghana Football Association should actively recruit players with dual nationality to strengthen the squad’s depth.
While welcoming competition, Ayew made it clear that a strong foundation has already been laid.
“To be honest, on the technical side, the coach will know who to bring in or select,” Ayew noted, deferring the final decisions to the coaching staff but reiterating his belief that the current “core” of the team is already established.
The Black Stars are set for a challenging campaign in the 2026 World Cup, having been drawn in Group L alongside football powerhouses England, Croatia, and Panama. As the team looks ahead to the tournament, Ayew’s call for continuity suggests that the path forward will be built on the chemistry and resilience forged during the difficult qualifying process.
Ghana will be making their fifth appearance at the World Cup.
The team’s build-up begins on Friday, March 27, when they face Austria at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 5pm local time. Three days later, the Black Stars travel to Stuttgart to take on Germany at the MHP Arena.
In May, head coach Otto Addo will guide the team through another warm-up match against Mexico. The final friendly is set for June 2 against Wales at Cardiff City Stadium.