Andre Ayew: Ghana captain reveals how he deals with harsh criticism from football fans
- Adamu Muftawu
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Ghana captain Andre Ayew has opened up on dealing with criticisms as a professional footballer.
The 35-year-old, who captained the West African nation at multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments as well as at the FIFA World Cup, has been in fine form for Le Havre this season.
Affectionately called “Dede”, the former Olympique Marseille forward has scored 3 goals from 13 appearances for the French Ligue 1 side.
Ayew was recently left out of Ghana’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers from which the four-time African champions failed to qualify in the end. The son of three-time African Footballer of the Year Abedi Ayew “Pele”, Dede revealed the need to remain focused in dealing with harsh criticisms in an interview with BBC Sport Africa.
"It's all about you, focusing on your job and what you have to do," he said. "Everything has a good and bad side so, sometimes, try to understand where the criticism comes from - it can help you. We play football for the people, especially in our country and continent where we love the game so much."
"But today, if somebody is frustrated they can just write anything (online). That's where we need to be strong and not pay attention to that sort of thing. You want to make the people happy, (but) when it's just nonsense talk push it away."
"With my experience, I just feel that you need to stay focused, listen to what the coaches and the analysts and the staff have to tell you. That's where the real information comes from."
Ayew’s club career has taken him to Marseille, with loan spells at Lorient and Arles Avignon before journeying to English football with Swansea City [two spells], West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. He has previously played for Turkish giants Fenerbahce on loan plus a spell with Qatari giants Al Sadd.
His national team experience includes eight Africa Cup of Nations, helping Ghana to finish second in 2010 and 2015. Ayew has played in three FIFA World Cups and his tally of 120 caps is a record for the Black Stars.
