Former Ghana Assistant coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu has expressed his objection to the possible return of former Black Stars captain Andre Dede Ayew to the squad, as Ghana gears up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June.

The Sudan assistant coach believes that Ayew has paid his dues to the team and served the country well enough to step out for a new generation of players to carry the fort.

“He might be a very, very good player,” he said. “But you ask yourself in this current setup, is he needed? Is he needed? For me,” he said in an interview with Luv FM.

According to him, “Dede himself should let it go and then focus on his club football. Dede is my man, but for me, you leave when the applause is high”.

However, Osei-Fosu believes national team decisions should be based on the team’s current needs rather than reputation.

According to Ignatius, stepping aside at the right time can preserve a player’s legacy.

“That’s why I like these white people.” At a point, Totti was him [Andre] to the national team of Italy, but he said, ‘No, I want to focus on club football.’

Mr Ignatius' comments come just a few days after the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, sparked speculation about the potential return of former Black Stars captain Andre Dede Ayew, who has been sidelined since the AFCON 2023, which was played in the Ivory Coast.

Speaking during an appearance on Adom FM, the Buem Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) indicated that he won't be surprised to see Andre Ayew included in Ghana's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"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.