World Cup 2026: Andre Ayew should have been include in Ghana’s squad – Laryea Kingston

Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has just expressed reservations about how players exit the national team, arguing that André “Dede” Ayew should have been included in the squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking to Joy Sports, Kingston pointed out that the current approach to phasing out senior players lacks empathy, contrastingly praising how countries like Mexico manage their football icons during transition periods.

The Mexican example

Kingston drew a contrast between Ghana’s selection policy and that of Mexico, specifically pointing to how North Americans managed veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

He emphasized that including such icons allows them to step down on their own terms, giving them the space to close a chapter peacefully.

“Trust me, after this competition, he [Ochoa] would say, ‘okay, now it’s done.’ Unlike some parts of the world, where they will just kick you out when it’s not your time to leave,” Kingston observed.

A cycle of grief

The former national star expressed concern over the emotional toll that abrupt exclusions take on long-serving players, revealing that many Ghanaian football legends depart the international stage carrying immense resentment.

Kingston argued that this institutional coldness ultimately hurts the team’s long-term chemistry.

“For me, I don’t think it’s right the way we handle certain things. I can guarantee you that a lot of former players leave the national team with grief. Most of them were not happy,” he stated.

Resolving internal friction

Turning his focus directly to Ayew’s recent omissions, Kingston questioned the logic behind sidelining a leader who remains eager to serve his country.

Ayew has not been called up to the Black Stars since 2024 and led discussions leading up to the World Cup, but was ultimately left out of the squad.

Kingston insisted that managing personal milestones and player happiness is just as critical to winning major tournaments, like the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as tactical strategies.

So, I think this is something that we need to look at. We’ve been getting close to the cup, especially the AFCON, and then something will come up and we won’t achieve that.

These are some of the small things that we need to fix rather than just focusing on the performance on the pitch.