Ayew blames Stars management

Ghana winger Andre Ayew says he decided to temporarily quit the Black Stars because he does not enjoy a good relationship with the management of the team.

The France-based player on Tuesday asked the Ghana Football Association (GFA) not to consider him - temporarily - for future call-ups into the Black Stars. Without giving specific reasons why his relationship with the management has broken down, Ayew insists the state of affairs has emotionally and psychologically affected his desire to play for his country.

“My decision to withdraw my services from the national team results from a number of issues or matters that have occurred quite recently, especially with regard to my relationship with the management team of the senior national team, the Black Stars,” Ayew said in a letter to the GFA. “These matters have so affected me emotionally and psychologically such that I am unable presently to offer the best of my services to my dear nation.”

The decision by the son of legend Abedi Pele comes in the wake of his exclusion from Ghana’s squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Andre Ayew was included in the squad but was subsequently dropped after he failed to arrive in time to be examined by the Ghana team doctors following a hamstring injury.

While Ayew might have his reasons for quitting, some have pointed to disciplinary problems for his run-ins with Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah. Andre was given an ultimatum to apologise over an incident when he was substituted in their Nations Cup qualifier against Malawi in Blantyre last year.

Ayew has scored four goals in 43 appearances for Ghana.