Former Ghana defender Samuel Inkoom has emphasized the importance of Andre Ayew in the Black Stars amid calls for his exclusion from the team in recent times.
The former Marseille and West Ham United star has come under intense pressure following the Black Stars unimpressive performance.
The West African powerhouse has struggled to make impact in major competition under captain, Andre Ayew.
Ghana suffered elimination at the group stage during the 2021 AFCON, 2023 AFCON and World Cup 2022.
Despite the team’s calamitous performances, Inkoom insists Andre Ayew is needed to play a motivating role for the youngsters in the squad.
"I believe if you have a team, you have to have the experienced ones and the young ones because the young one cannot just come like that. You are supposed to have experienced one inside the team that can motivate them and can also encourage them," he told GH One TV.
"I don't think at the moment we have to kick Andre Ayew or maybe the senior players out of the team. They have to be in the team, give the young ones confidence, and say a lot of encouraging stuff because I think that is how a team is supposed to be," he added.
Inkoom and Ayew were part of the Ghana U20 team that won the U20 FIFA World Cup in 2009.