Jordan Ayew has been appointed the substantive captain of the Ghana Black Stars, according to sources close to JoySports. The Crystal Palace forward will succeed his elder brother, André Ayew, who held the captaincy since May 2019.
Jordan Ayew, a long-serving member of the national team since his debut in 2010 and the sole remaining player from the 2014 World Cup squad, was chosen for his consistent commitment to the team.
The decision follows a period of internal discord within the squad. Former coach Otto Addo had initially appointed Mohammed Kudus as captain for the AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Sudan, but later reassigned the armband to Jordan Ayew to address concerns about the decision-making process.
Addo explained his decision, stating, “I have decided to appoint a new captain, which will be Jordan. I spoke to Kudus to help him understand that I want him to grow into this role and serve as the second captain alongside Djiku. Jordan will take over from now, and he will lead and guide the team.”
Thomas Partey, who was available for selection but not included in recent matches, was offered the deputy captain role but declined, expressing a preference to focus solely on playing. Alexander Djiku has been named the first deputy captain.
The decision regarding Djiku’s appointment has sparked some debate, with some suggesting that Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana should have been considered for the role.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus will retain the number 10 jersey, despite initial advice to revert to his previous number 20.
The Black Stars are scheduled to play Chad in March for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
