Ghana captain Andre Ayew has downplayed talks of leaving the scene after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, stating that there is much more to be done in his international football journey.
Ayew, the country’s most-capped player, expressed pride in his international career and described wearing the Black Stars jersey as a lifelong dream. He emphasised the joy he feels when representing the national team and downplayed speculation about his retirement.
“Anytime I have this shirt on it’s a dream. I grew up wanting to wear the Black Stars jersey, that was the dream from the start. Growing up I was in the Black Stars bus when they went to play games with my dad, I only had one thing in mind – to play for the Ghana Black Stars – and I have already lived that dream for 16-17 years now, and every day I come into camp and every day I have the chance to wear the jersey is the best moment in my football career because that is when I feel the most joy,” he said on Saturday, ahead of Ghana’s first game in Ivory Coast against Cape Verde.
One thing Andre Ayew has never lacked for Ghana is passion.#AFCON2023
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) January 14, 2024
The 34-year-old, set to make a record-equalling eighth AFCON appearance, aims to help Ghana win the tournament and secure their fifth Africa Cup of Nations title, the first since 1982. Despite speculation that this could be his last AFCON, Ayew is focused on contributing to the team’s success and is not paying heed to external opinions.
“Things have been very very well. I thank God for the international career that has been happening for me but I believe that there is much to be done. You don’t know when your moment is going to arrive. What you need to do is work hard, and believe in the work you have done. Keep working and one moment that star that you have been wanting will arrive on the jersey,” he added.
Ayew, who has scored Ghana’s first goal in the last four tournaments, is determined to continue his contribution. Should he start against Cape Verde, he will aim to add to his goal-scoring record of 10 goals, which is the most registered by a Ghanaian in the history of the tournament.