Ghana’s Hotshot Forward Puts Mauritius to the Sword in Qualifying Play

By Dan Stelly | Photo via FCL — FC Lorient

Note: Each week, we work with EA Sports FIFA, one of our sponsors, to highlight a player from their Ultimate Team, which assembles the best players from international and club competition around the world. If you’d like to have this piece (along with other dispatches from the soccer universe) delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our weekly bulletin.

Jordan Ayew is our player of the week for his dominant performance, including two goals and two assists, in Ghana’s 7–1 thrashing of Mauritius.

At the ripe age of 23, Ayew is already a fixture of the Ghanaian national team and played a part in all of his country’s matches at last year’s World Cup. The striker’s eight goals in 28 appearances for his country are matched by 12 goals in 29 appearances for Lorient. He moved to Brittany in 2014 after spells with Marseille and Sochaux.

Ayew’s current form looks to have the Black Stars on track for another shot at the African Cup of Nations crown after falling to Ivory Coast in the final earlier this year. Sunday’s qualifying victory over Mauritius sent Ghana top of their group, although a full slate of fixtures awaits.

Expectations are high for both Ayew and his nation. The forward’s father is the famous Abedi Pele while all the males in his extended family, including brother André, are current or former professionals.