Former Ghana captain André Ayew says he chose not to publicly challenge his omission from the Black Stars squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup because he did not want to put his personal grievances ahead of the country.

The 36-year-old was speaking on former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel’s Obi One Podcast, where he reflected on one of the most debated decisions surrounding Ghana’s World Cup campaign.

Ayew, who captained Ghana at the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2022 World Cup, said he was aware that many supporters questioned his exclusion, particularly because he had been playing regularly for Dutch club NAC Breda.

“I was playing regularly for NAC Breda, and I know some people were calling for me to be part,” he said.

“To be fair, some of the players who went to the World Cup, they didn’t have a lot of game time in the season.”

The former Swansea City, West Ham United and Marseille forward acknowledged that the debate over his omission was intense but said he deliberately refused to enter the public discussion.

“People said a lot of things,” Ayew said.

He also revealed that he felt hurt by the treatment he received from some individuals within Ghana football and sections of the media.

However, Ayew said his loyalty to Ghana prevented him from responding publicly.

“A lot of people in the [GFA, media and elsewhere] did me a lot of wrong. I felt it. But I did not say one word [because] I cannot spit on my country because of certain people. Ghana is more important.”

Ayew remains Ghana’s most-capped player and has played at several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and World Cups during a distinguished international career.

His omission from the 2026 World Cup squad generated significant debate among supporters and pundits, with many arguing that his experience and leadership could have benefited the team.

Despite being left out, Ayew said he preferred to keep his disappointment private rather than allow the decision to affect his relationship with the national team or Ghana.