Kwesi Appiah wanted to drop Ayews and Wakaso from the Black Stars – Ernest Thomson

Former Black Stars Management Committee member Ernest Thompson has revealed that former coach Kwesi Appiah once sought to drop Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, and Mubarak Wakaso from the national team.

However, the intervention of the management committee was pivotal in resolving the situation.

The Ghana Football Association dissolved the Black Stars Management Committee on November 22, following the team’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Thompson recounted the incident, highlighting the significant role the committee played in mediating tensions.

He recalled how Appiah had expressed frustration with the players and initially planned to exclude them, a decision the committee opposed.

“At a point in time, Kwasi Appiah had problems with Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, and Wakaso. You remember that incident. Go back to history. He [Kwasi Appiah] wanted to drop them. He said he had dropped them. I’m telling you the truth now,” he told Joy Sports.

“We [then Black Stars management committee team] said, look, because of Jordan, Andre, and particularly their father Abedi [Pele], who is an icon, if you had problems with them in the team, we plead with you to go and see Abedi [Pele] and speak to Abedi because you can’t treat Abedi’s children that way. Let the father know, and see if the father can intervene.”

“It took Alhaji Hearts, who we called to also go and speak to the boys about Kwasi Appiah’s concerns. Later on, Kwasi Appiah agreed, brought them back, and they came to save the team. So a lot of things happen at the management committee level [of the Black Stars]. You can check all these from George Afriyie.

“The management team does a good work provided they stay within their purview.”