Jordan Ayew has emphasized the urgency for the Black Stars to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following Ghana’s disappointing failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The four-time African champions will miss the upcoming AFCON in Morocco later this year after failing to secure a single victory in the qualifiers.
However, Ayew believes the team must bounce back by ensuring they reach the global tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking to BBC Sport Africa, the Leicester City striker acknowledged the pressure of playing for Ghana and the inevitable criticism that comes with poor results.
“There’s pressure playing for Ghana,” Ayew admitted in an interview with BBC Sport Africa. “We can’t stop people from criticizing; it’s part of the game. When the results are not there, the manager and the players get the backlash.”
Ayew has been a key figure in Ghana’s World Cup qualifying campaign, netting four goals so far, including a hat-trick against the Central African Republic in Kumasi last June.
His tally makes him Ghana’s top scorer in the qualifiers, trailing only Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet, who have five goals each.
The 33-year-old recently took over the captaincy from his brother, André Ayew, who was left out of the squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar. While acknowledging the challenges of leading the team, Jordan remains optimistic about Ghana’s chances.
“With the quality we have, we need to qualify for the World Cup,” he stated. “Hopefully, from these two games, we can show a good image of ourselves and turn things around.”
Ghana currently sits third in Group I with nine points from four games.
The Black Stars will face Chad in Kumasi on Friday before traveling to Madagascar for their next fixture on Monday.