The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, says he won't be surprised to see Andre Ayew included in Ghana's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The NAC Breda forward has not played for the Black Stars since the March 2024 friendly games against Nigeria and Uganda.

Since then, the 36-year-old has been left out of Ghana's squad on several occasions, including qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as qualifiers for the World Cup.

The former Le Havre attacker joined NAC Breda in January after being out of contract at the end of last season.

"Dede Ayew, too, is picking up, and as long as he has not retired, I won't be surprised if he makes it into the [2026 World Cup] squad," Adams said on Adom FM.

Ayew has started the last three games for NAC Breda in the Eredivisie as he chases a first goal since joining the Dutch club.

Ayew on retirement speculations

Meanwhile, the former Black Stars captain Andre Ayew says speculation about his imminent retirement is unfounded, insisting he feels fit, healthy, and not ready to hang up his boots.

Ayew is currently playing for Dutch Eredivisie outfit NAC Breda after parting ways with French side Le Havre AC at the end of last season. His deal with his current side is a short one, set to last till the end of this campaign.

Ayew’s last game for Ghana was with the Black Stars at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, and since then, he hasn’t received a call-up.

Speaking during an interview with ESPN, the midfielder explained that he focuses on maintaining his fitness and improving each day, both on and off the pitch.

“I never thought about it (retirement) because my body is good, I feel good. I live my life day to day, so I prepare myself every time to have a better tomorrow on the field and off the field,” he said.

“I don’t think about that. When the moment comes, your body will tell you,” he added.

Since joining NAC Breda, Ayew has made six league appearances, including one start, as he works toward regaining full match fitness.

Ayew's stance on retirement is similar to Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo, who in 2025 noted that he could play for another 10 years with his 'kind of body'.

This was after he shared his excitement after learning about his physiological age.

The Whoop platform, a wearable fitness and health tracking platform designed to help users monitor and improve their performance, recovery, and overall well-being, analysed Ronaldo and discovered that his physiological age is 28.9 years old.

In reaction to the results from Whoop, the Al-Nassr forward expressed satisfaction, suggesting that he could play for the next decade.

"I can't believe it is so good. This means I will play for another ten years. When you're young, you think you will live forever, that you will always be strong, that you're unbreakable," he told Whoop.

He, however, acknowledged the effect ageing has on the body, particularly as a footballer.

In order to keep his form and shape for optimal performance on the pitch, he shared how he "prioritizes recovery and sleep much more than before.

."…at 25, it is not the same as when you're 30, especially in football. I still feel good."

Ronaldo stated that his ability to remain strong physically at 40 years old is a remarkable feat, and he hopes to continue in the same form to play football for a longer period than expected.

The former Real Madrid legend is taunted for his fitness and form even at age 40 as Ronaldo continues to be one of the most prolific goal scorers for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, having scored 24 goals in 29 appearances.