Andre Ayew could be the person to transform Ghana football – Ex-Nigeria captain Mikel Obi

Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Andre Ayew has the qualities to become a driving force in the future development of Ghanaian football.

Mikel made the remarks after arriving in Ghana on Friday for a project with the former Black Stars captain, praising Ayew's achievements on and off the pitch and suggesting he could play a significant role in bringing change to the country's football landscape.

Speaking about Ayew's legacy, Mikel placed the 36-year-old among Ghana's greatest players and highlighted both his footballing pedigree and leadership qualities.

“He’s the main man. You talk about the legends in Ghana football, you talk about Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, Asamoah Gyan, the guys that I played against. Of course, then you talk about Andre Ayew. I think he’s a top player,” Mikel said.

“But he’s a great guy. He’s a top player, a great human being. I think if you talk about African football, I think he might be the guy that can bring some change to Ghanaian football," he added.

Mikel's endorsement comes as the role of former players in football administration and development has become an increasingly prominent topic across Africa, with many ex-internationals moving into leadership and governance positions after retirement.

Ayew remains Ghana's most-capped senior international and has enjoyed one of the country's most distinguished careers.

He helped Ghana become the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009 before establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Black Stars for more than a decade.

He represented Ghana at the 2010, 2014 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and featured in several Africa Cup of Nations campaigns, including the teams that finished runners-up at the 2010 and 2015 editions.

Although Ayew was not part of Ghana's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he has remained closely connected to the national game, continuing to support the country's various national teams and maintaining a visible presence within the football community.

The former Swansea City and West Ham United forward is also involved with Nania FC, the club founded by his father and Ghana legend Abedi Pele.

His wealth of experience at the highest level has led to growing speculation that he could eventually take on a role in football administration, with some observers viewing him as a potential future figure within the Ghana Football Association.