- Jordan Ayew Tipped to Become New Black Stars Captain
- Thomas Partey steps down as first deputy captain
- Ghana Football Association introduces new captaincy selection policy
Black Stars forward Jordan Ayew is reportedly set to be appointed as the new captain of Ghana’s senior national team ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
According to Joy Sports, the 28-year-old Leicester City striker will assume the leadership role, following Thomas Partey’s decision to step down from his position as first deputy captain. Alexander Djiku is expected to be named as the new first deputy captain.
Partey, who has served in the role since 2019, will be ending his six-year tenure as a leader of the Black Stars. The change comes after reports of Partey’s refusal to retain the deputy role.
Jordan Ayew previously captained the Black Stars during the final round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger, stepping in for both Partey and former captain André Ayew, who were unavailable. Despite initially being overlooked for the doubleheader against Sudan in favor of Mohammed Kudus, Ayew’s leadership now looks set to continue.
The report also indicates that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has introduced a new captaincy policy, focusing on fostering stability by prioritizing longevity within the squad. These changes, which are set to be implemented in March 2025, aim to improve team consistency.
Head coach Otto Addo is hopeful that this new leadership structure will help address the Black Stars’ struggles with securing victories in 2024, boosting the team’s overall form moving forward.
