Ghana national team captain Andre Ayew is confident that the new players who recently switched their international allegiance to Ghana will improve the quality of the team ahead of the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup.
Black Stars coach Otto Addo summoned the five new players who completed their nationality switch for the two friendly matches against Brazil and Nicaragua.
The new players include, Spain-based and Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams, Brighton and Hove Albion FC wingback Tariq Lamptey, Stephan Ambrosius from Germany side karlsruhe, Ransford Yeboah konigsdorffer of Hamburg SV, and Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu.
However, Ayew who plays for Al Sadd told Graphic Sports that the timing of the players’ decision to play for the Black Stars could lead to a suspicion that their main motivation was to play in the world Cup in Qatar.
He added that it is up to them to demonstrate the right level of commitment and wear the national jersey with pride to win over their critics.
Ayew has urged the players to prove to themselves that they deserve to be part of the team and that the world cup was not their ultimate motivation.
I know some people are saying that they have come because of the World Cup but honestly, we will never know the real motive, what we know is that they are quality players who can bring something to the squad,
He said.
The 2009 Under-20 World Cup winner also said the addition of the five players will add depth to the squad as all of them have talent and experience of playing top level football.
Now, they have decided to come and if they have the right heart, the right determination to die for the team from the first minute to the 90th minute during the world Cup and after the world Cup, we are going to open every door that we have to make them comfortable,
He concluded.
The Black Stars will play Brazil on Friday and will wrap up their international window against Nicaragua in the southeastern Spanish city of Lorca four days later as they continue to prepare for the 2022 FIFA World Cup where they are pitted in Group H alongside Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.
