Fiifi Tackie Blasts Otto Addo Over Comments on André Ayew
Spokesperson for the Ayew family, Fiifi Tackie, has strongly criticized Black Stars head coach Otto Addo following his recent remarks about former Ghana captain André Ayew.
In an interview, Addo explained his decision to exclude Ayew from the national team setup, stating:
“If we need André Ayew, we will call him. At the moment, I see others ahead of him.”
However, these comments have not sat well with Tackie, who believes they disrespect Ayew’s contributions to Ghanaian football and fail to recognize the sacrifices he has made for the national team.
Ayew, Ghana’s most-capped player and a three-time World Cup participant, has not been included in Addo’s squad since his return as coach in March 2024. Despite scoring four goals in 11 starts for Le Havre in the French Ligue 1, the 35-year-old has been overlooked for key fixtures, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Ghana currently leads Group I with 15 points.
Expressing his disappointment, Tackie questioned Addo’s consistency in player selection, highlighting Ayew’s active club participation as a reason he deserves a call-up.
“On numerous occasions, the same coach has said one of the key criteria for selection into the national team is active club participation. How can Ayew, Ghana’s most-capped player, a three-time World Cup veteran, and a proven leader, be deemed unworthy even when playing well at his club in the French league?” Tackie said in a statement.
Labeling Addo’s comments as “unprofessional”, Tackie insisted that Ayew’s dedication to Ghanaian football should not be disregarded.
“It is baffling that a coach who failed to qualify Ghana for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations would so casually dismiss the contributions of a player who has consistently delivered for his country and is playing week in and week out at his club,” he added.
“Such remarks are not only disrespectful to Ayew but also undermine his sacrifices and the pride he has brought to Ghana football. Coach Addo’s comments are unbecoming of someone in his position.”
