Carlos Queiroz faces an early selection dilemma as he begins his new mandate as Black Stars coach, with the future of captain Jordan Ayew likely to be one of the major talking points ahead of Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Ayew captained Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and featured in all of the Black Stars’ matches as they reached the knockout stage for the first time since 2010.
However, the 34-year-old is currently without a club after leaving Leicester City before the tournament in North America, leaving Queiroz with a difficult decision as Ghana prepare for the next international window.
Ayew has remained active since returning to Ghana from the World Cup, featuring in amateur games while on holiday as he maintains his fitness.
But with the AFCON qualifiers fast approaching, his lack of competitive club football presents a major question for Queiroz.
Should the Portuguese coach continue to rely on the experienced captain because of his leadership and importance to the squad, or make the bold decision to leave him out until he secures a new club?
Ghana will face Cote d’Ivoire on September 24 before hosting The Gambia on September 27 in two crucial Group C qualifiers.
The timing leaves Queiroz with little room for uncertainty.
Ghanaians will expect the new Black Stars mandate to come with bold decisions, and Ayew’s situation could provide the first major test of the coach’s approach to selection.
For a player who wore the captain’s armband throughout Ghana’s World Cup campaign, leaving Ayew out would be a significant decision. But continuing to select him without regular competitive football could also raise questions about standards and merit.
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