The dust may have settled on the issue and the 23 players selected playing in the tournament for Ghana but former Ghana football chief, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe believes the national team are missing the influence of playmaker Andre Dede Ayew at the 2013 Cup of Africa Nations.

Nyaho, renowned for his strict disciplinary standards, says the importance of a player like Dede Ayew cannot be overridden by the slight excuse that he was late for camp.

“I don’t know what happened between him and the coach but Dede Ayew is a matchmaker and we are feeling his absence. If he had been in the game, our performance would have been far different,” Nyaho told 90 MINUTES exclusively.

He continued: “We have not seen anybody who is gingering the boys, encouraging them, only Paintsil has tried to do it but he can’t do it well.” The former GFA Chairman then cited the famous Paulo Rossi case of 1982: “To me, Dede is a matchmaker and matchmakers are key members of a team. I am somebody who stresses on discipline but there are certain players you have to deal with differently.

“Let me tell the story of Paulo Rossi who came from prison straight to the pitch to help Italy win the World Cup and he was best player and goal king of the tournament.

“There was also Wayne Rooney who had a fractured toe before 2006 World Cup but England still put him in the squad. Even the same Rooney was suspended for the first 2 games of EURO 2012 but they took him along.” Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe added: “I don’t know what was the problem but I think a special dispensation should have been given in respect of Dede because he is a player who fights for you for 90 minutes. Let’s face it, his absence shows and you can feel it.

“So when you say his offence was reporting late, it cannot be enough reason to completely leave him out. Kwesi Appiah should have been advised by somebody or even he has been a footballer himself so he should know that these things happen.”