Black Stars captain Andre Ayew says talent is the main prerequisite to winning a FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The former Olympique Marseille player led a host of young talented players as captain to win Ghana and Africa’s first U-20 World Cup in 2009 with the Black Satellites after beating their Brazillian counterparts on penalty shootouts following 120 minutes of pulsating action which ended scoreless despite Ghana playing with 10 men in most part of the game.
Ayew believes that triumph as well as many others was achieved as a result of the availability of talents. According to him, it is always different when challenging for such trophies as compared to major ones meant for senior national teams.
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“It takes talent. It’s not an AFCON, a EURO, a Copa America, or a Seniors World Cup, but it is close. These days, there are many players in this age category who are already professionals,” he told FIFA.
The Nottingham Forest player was part of several players in the glorious Black Satellites who were eventually promoted into the Black Stars including Dominic Adiyiah who won both the best player and top scorer awards at the tournament in 2009.
Ayew has moved on to become the captain of the Black Stars and participated in three World Cups. He is also Ghana’s top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations with 10 goals and is second in World Cup goals with two, trailing only Asamoah Gyan, the continent’s top scorer at the World Cup with six goals.
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