Former Black Stars captain André ‘Dede’ Ayew has suggested that the lack of appreciation for legendary players is one of the factors contributing to Ghana’s failure to win a major trophy in decades.

He expressed frustration with the national team’s repeated disappointments in major tournaments, including reaching the finals and semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) before suffering defeats, sometimes on penalties.

He believes there is something that needs to be addressed.

‘I’ve received calls from football people’ – Dede Ayew on GFA Presidency

The former Le Havre attacker identified the failure to honour legendary players who served the national team with ceremonial matches as one issue that could be contributing to the team’s struggles.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Ayew said some former players harbour bitterness because of how they have been treated.

“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.

“Because we play, we get to finals, we play good football with this, with that, we have the right transition. Semis, finals, you get to penalties, you lose. We cannot lose so many finals. So there are some things we need to correct, and I think this is one of the things that we need to correct,” he said.

Ayew added that he and other former players, including Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan, would not demand such recognition for themselves, but he hopes the practice will be embraced in the future.

“But I don't want, and I'm even asking my elder brothers who have passed from Baby Jets and Stevens, and these are really my elder brothers, and they know how much I respect them, because they give me the respect. So I even give them more respect, because one, they're older than me. Two, I met them. And three, they always give me that respect. So I see them and I don't want none of us to ask for anything,” he added.

Watch the video below:

'I saw it coming. We don’t need to ask for it. When you become powerful in the dressing room, they try to sideline you.'

Andre Ayew on the lack of proper farewells for former players in Ghana.

#JoySports https://t.co/UxJzCug6jd

— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) October 19, 2026