Former Black Stars captain André “Dede” Ayew has identified the lack of proper recognition for legendary players as one of the factors behind Ghana’s failure to win a major trophy for more than four decades.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Ayew expressed frustration at the national team’s repeated near-misses in major tournaments. He noted that Ghana has often reached the finals or semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations only to suffer defeat, sometimes on penalties.

Ayew believes something deeper needs to be addressed within the national team setup. He pointed specifically to the failure to honour former players who served the Black Stars with ceremonial matches as a contributing issue.

According to him, some former players still harbour bitterness over the way they have been treated after their time with the team. This unresolved feeling, he argued, affects the overall energy around the national side.

“It’s been happening, happening. And the bitterness and all of this are part of things where the good energy is not there. I don’t believe it’s possible that, in these generations of players we’ve had, we haven’t won a trophy. Something somewhere is not right,” Ayew said.

He added that Ghana has produced talented generations capable of winning silverware, yet the team continues to fall short at critical moments. Reaching finals and playing good football has not been enough, he noted, and corrections must be made.

Ayew stressed that he and other former stars, including Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan, would not demand ceremonial recognition for themselves. He expressed hope that the culture of properly honouring players who have served the nation would be embraced in the future.

“I don’t want, and I’m even asking my elder brothers who have passed from Baby Jets and Stevens… I see them and I don’t want none of us to ask for anything,” he said.

The former captain also touched on the tendency for players who become influential in the dressing room to be sidelined. His comments form part of a broader reflection on the structural and cultural issues he believes have hindered the Black Stars’ success on the continental stage.

Source: https://x.com/theghanaweb/status/2112874969944260648?s=46