<p><strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ghana/">Ghana</a></strong> lands in North America seeking to make noise on the <strong>2026 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/">World Cup</a></strong>, but it will have to navigate its campaign without the immense presence of <strong>Andre Ayew</strong>. In a major tactical shift, Portuguese manager <strong>Carlos Queiroz</strong> chose to leave the highly experienced attacker off the final 26-man roster, opting to prioritize younger profiling for Ghana’s front line.</p>



<p>The 36-year-old forward is an undisputed icon of Ghanaian soccer. He currently stands as the country’s <strong>second-highest appearance-maker in World Cup history</strong> with 10 tournament games under his belt—sitting agonizingly just one appearance away from tying the legendary <strong>Asamoah Gyan</strong>.</p>



<p>Despite his historic status within the national team, Ayew’s influence on the pitch began to wane significantly following the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana endured a disastrous tournament, crashing out in the <strong>group stage</strong>, with Ayew relegated to a fringe role—making just two appearances, both coming as a late substitute off the bench.</p>



<p>With this latest roster omission, Ayew’s international chapter appears to have reached its conclusion, even though he has yet to officially announce his retirement from the national setup. </p>



<div class="ck-instagram"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZsI8P6jB9H/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;margin: 1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:99.375%;width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZsI8P6jB9H/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <div style="flex-direction: row;align-items: center"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px"></div> <div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0"></div> <div style="height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px"> <div style="color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px">Ver esta publicación en Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0"></div> <div style="flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px"></div> <div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto"> <div style="width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px"></div> <div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent"></div></div></div> <div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px"></div></div></a><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DZsI8P6jB9H/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Una publicación compartida de Andre Ayew (@andreayew10)</a></p></div></blockquote></div>




<p>Amassing <strong>113 caps</strong> and <strong>24 goals</strong> across all competitions, Ghana’s <strong>third-highest all-time goalscorer</strong> will forever be remembered as one of the finest attackers the country has ever produced.</p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/world-cup/list-of-world-cup-winners-by-year-every-champion-since-1930/"></div>


<h2>Jordan Ayew carries the family legacy</h2>



<p>While Andre will be watching from afar, the legendary Ayew family dynasty remains alive and well within the squad. His brother, <strong>Jordan Ayew</strong>, has officially inherited the captain’s armband and will lead Queiroz’s 26-man team in North America.</p>



<p>The Leicester City forward is currently the second-highest all-time goalscorer in Ghana’s history. Over his international career, he has racked up an impressive <strong>118 caps</strong>, netting <strong>33 goals</strong> and providing <strong>20 assists</strong> for the <em>Black Stars</em>.</p>



<p>Jordan lands in North America as the bedrock of the team’s veteran leadership, having previously featured in both the 2014 and 2022 editions of the World Cup. As captain, he will look to spearhead a youthful roster as they try to replicate and surpass the country’s historic <strong>quarterfinal run from South Africa 2010.</strong></p>


Why Andre Ayew is missing the 2026 World Cup for Ghana

Why Andre Ayew is missing the 2026 World Cup for Ghana - World Soccer Talk

<p>Nottingham Forest have officially announced the signing of Andre Ayew. Although the transfer deadline day was Tuesday, the Ghana international was able to join Forest because he was a free agent. Ayew recently departed Qatari club Al Sadd.</p>



<p>“It’s a great feeling to sign for Nottingham Forest,” <a href="https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2023/february/02/forest-complete-signing-of-andr--ayew/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> Ayew during the announcement. “I know how big the club is and I know how much the club means to the city and the fanbase. It’s always been difficult whenever I’ve played against Forest and at The City Ground and I love the stadium.”</p>



<h5>Player and coach have history together</h5>



<p>Ayew previously worked with Forest head coach Steve Cooper. The duo spent two seasons with Swansea City together, as the forward scored 31 league goals for Cooper during this timeframe. Ayew was voted as the Welsh club’s player of the season for the 2019/20 campaign.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great to have you here, André. 😁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeAndr%C3%A9?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeAndré</a> 🇬🇭 <a href="https://t.co/8eT5F5zZyY">pic.twitter.com/8eT5F5zZyY</a></p>— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFFC/status/1621223024883023875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>“Steve Cooper is someone who knows me very well and knows how to work with me both on and off the pitch. We have a strong relationship, he’s a special coach and a special human being and someone who I really look up to.”</p>



<p>“I know what I can bring to the team, I’m ready to give my all and make sure that we are able to stay in the Premier League.”</p>



<h2>Nottingham Forest in desperate need of Andre Ayew goals</h2>



<p>Cooper will hope that the reunion gives his team a shot in the arm. Only Everton and Wolves have scored fewer <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Premier League</a> goals than Forest this season. Ayew has scored over 150 club goals during his senior career. He has also managed to net 24 times in 113 games for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/ghana-national-team-tv-schedule/">Ghana</a> as well.</p>



<p>Everton were also reportedly interested in signing the Ghanian. However, Ayew has chosen Forest over the 19th-placed Toffees. The 33-year-old forward has signed a short-term contract with the club that runs until the end of the current campaign. Ayew is Forest’s 30th signing of the season.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Newspix</em></p>


Nottingham Forest announce Andre Ayew signing

Nottingham Forest have officially unveiled Andre Ayew as their new player, a man who previously worked under Steve Cooper at Swansea City.

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