André Ayew: “We Respect Everyone, But Ghana Has the Experience”
Placed in Group C, the infamous “group of death” at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Ghana is set to face Senegal, South Africa, and Algeria—three of the continent’s most formidable sides. Despite the tough draw, André Ayew, one of the Black Stars’ key figures, remains confident in his team’s ability to rise to the challenge.
In an interview with Dakaractu, the Olympique de Marseille midfielder acknowledged the strength of the group but emphasized Ghana’s pedigree in African football:
“We respect all the teams. Don’t forget that we are Ghana, one of the best teams in Africa. What matters most to us is the football we produce on the pitch.”
Ghana, a regular AFCON contender with four titles to its name, is hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2014 World Cup showing. Ayew highlighted the team’s advantage in tournament experience, stating:
“All our players are quite young, but we have all played at least three, if not four CANs. So, I think we have a slight advantage in terms of experience compared to Senegal, Algeria and even South Africa.”
While many pundits have tipped Algeria—Africa’s best-performing team at the World Cup in Brazil—as favorites, Ayew has his eyes on a different threat:
“The technicians talk a lot about Algeria, but I think we will have to be more careful with Senegal, whom we face in the first match.”
Ayew also pointed to the team’s recent instability due to coaching changes, which affected their performance in the qualifiers. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that Ghana’s unity and composure will be decisive.
As Ghana kicks off its 2015 AFCON journey in Equatorial Guinea, the squad’s mix of youth and experience, and Ayew’s quiet confidence, could be vital in navigating one of the most challenging groups in the tournament.
