By OkayGoal 
Black Stars coach Otto Addo has excluded veteran forward Andre Ayew from his squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Austria and Germany, according to media sources.
The 36-year-old, who returned to competitive football after a six-month hiatus following his departure from French club Le Havre, recently signed with relegation-threatened Dutch side NAC Breda.
Since joining the club as a free agent, Ayew has scored once in 10 appearances, sparking calls for his reintegration into the national team.
Ayew last represented the Black Stars at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where Ghana exited at the group stage.
Despite public appeals for his recall, Addo and his technical team have opted to leave him out of the squad, with the final team for the March friendlies expected to be announced later this week.
Ghana will face Austria at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Friday, March 27, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 17:00 GMT.
Following that match, the team will travel to Germany to meet the 2014 World Cup champions in Stuttgart on Monday, March 30.
These fixtures are part of the Black Stars’ preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Ghana is also scheduled to play friendlies against Mexico in May and Wales on June 2 before the tournament.
Drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia, the Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, face England on June 23, and conclude the group stage versus Croatia on June 27. After group-stage exits in 2014 and 2022, Ghana is aiming for a stronger showing on North American soil.