An experienced forward from Ghana black stars Andre Ayew is aiming to break one record and set another at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations , which gets underway in the Ivory Coast on January 13.
The 34-year-old is aiming to become the first player to score in seven editions of the prestigious African football tournament. He recently joined Le Havre, a top-tier team in France.
Along with fellow countryman Asamoah Gyan, Zambian Kalusha Bwalya, and Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o, the all-time leading goal scorer in the Cup of Nations with eighteen goals, he holds the record for most goals scored six.
Additionally, he aspires to become just the third player to appear in all eight iterations of the competition, which started in 1957 as a three-team event and has since grown to be a 24-nation showcase.
The record for the most tournament appearances is shared by Egyptian Ahmed Hassan and Cameroonian native Rigobert Song.
“My main goal is to start or be a substitute in the Ivory Coast,” Ayew declared prior to Group B matches against Cape Verde, the all-time record seven-time champion Egypt, and Mozambique.
Then, let’s observe what transpires. The most crucial thing is for Ghana to perform well in this tournament because we had a poor 2022 Cup of Nations, losing in the opening round.
With four titles, Ghana has the third-best record in this event behind Egypt and Cameroon. However, their only defeat came in 1982 when they defeated hosts Libya in a penalty-filled final.
They had six consecutive top-four finishes starting in 2008, but they lost to minnows Comoros in the round of 16 and had a humiliating first-round loss in 2022.
The fact that Ayew was sent off in the crucial match against the Comorans did not aid the Black Stars’ prospects.
Ayew has been supported by a number of coaches despite requests from certain Ghanaians for his dismissal, including current boss and former manager in the English Premier League Chris Hughton.
The former Republic of Ireland defender and manager of Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United says of Andre, “Andre contributes a lot to the Black Stars, both on and off the pitch.”
Andre was born in France, where his father, the three-time African Footballer of the Year, Abedi “Pele” Ayew, was playing. Abedi is a football legend in Ghana.
Before moving to Le Havre in 2024, he played in the Premier League, Turkey, Qatar, and England once more after making his professional debut with Marseille in 2007.
Jordan Ayew, a winger for Crystal Palace and his younger brother, is also a member of the Ghana team that is considered the favourite due to their reputation rather than their performance.
However, Tariq Lamptey and Thomas Partey, two injured Premier League players, were not included in the Black Stars’ 27-man roster that was announced on January 1.
They lost 1-0 on the road against notorious opponents the Comoros two months prior to the Cup of Nations in their final competitive game. That game was a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Nigeria, Ghana’s close rivals, will be strong challengers for the championship since they have a far more talented team, particularly up front.
Nigeria’s three continental championships have ended eleven years ago in South Africa. However, they are coming to the Ivory Coast with an attacking team that includes the current African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen of Napoli, Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen, Samuel Chukwueze of AC Milan, and Ademola Lookman of Atalanta.
However, Wilfred Ndidi, a midfielder for Leicester City, missing significant time due to injury might be a major loss.
The Nigeria Football Federation’s president, Ibrahim Gusau, downplayed the significance of the 27-year-old to the Super Eagles, stating, “We played a lot of matches without Ndidi, and we won a lot of matches without Ndidi.” We lost a lot of our games against Ndidi, so it’s not about Ndidi—rather, it’s about Nigeria’s national team.
He said that Antwerp’s uncapped midfielder, Alhassan Yusuf, should take the pitch, adding, “Yusuf is also doing wonderfully well with his team.” Yusuf gave an astonishing performance against FC Barcelona in the champions league and they hope he continue his incredible form going into the tournament.
Will the Nigerians leave up to expectations with the depth in their attack and can Andre Ayew be able to add the goal scoring record to his name? All to play for in the 2023 African Cup of Nations.
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