Former Black Princesses head coach, Robert Sackey, has strongly criticized Chris Hughton’s decision to include Andre Ayew in the starting lineup against Comoros in the second Group I game on Tuesday in Moroni.
LDespite being unused in the first group game against Madagascar, the 33-year-old, who had been without a club for seven months, joined French Ligue 1 side Le Havre earlier this month. However, his performance in the match against Comoros was lackluster, leading to widespread criticism.
In an interview, Sackey emphasized that while Andre Ayew’s leadership qualities are undeniable, it was a mistake for the technical team to start him against Comoros.
He expressed his viewpoint to Asempa FM, stating, “There is no doubt about his leadership qualities, but it was wrong for the technical team to start him. This is a player that has not played for about seven months, and so the decision was wrong.”
Sackey continued his critique, suggesting that introducing Ayew in the second half, particularly when Ghana was in a winning position, would have been a more reasonable decision.
He added, “If he was introduced in the second half at a point when Ghana was winning, that would have been fair, but starting him in a game that you needed to win was wrong.”
The controversy surrounding Ayew’s selection raises questions about player fitness and the strategic decisions made by the coaching staff.
Despite Ghana currently holding three points after two games, the decision to start Ayew has ignited discussions about the balance between experience and match fitness in crucial encounters.
Looking ahead, Ghana is scheduled to face Mali in their next group game in March 2024. The fallout from the Comoros match and the debate around Ayew’s involvement are likely to influence future lineup decisions and discussions within the football community.
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