Black Star Spotlight: Andre Ayew’s Aerial Mastery Sets Him Apart

At 35 years of age, Andre Ayew continues to surpass expectations, showcasing that his heading prowess remains one of his standout qualities.

This past weekend, Ayew produced an outstanding display in one of Ligue 1’s most exhilarating encounters this season, as Le Havre triumphed over RC Lens in a thrilling 4-3 clash.

The Ghanaian forward not only scored and assisted in this vital victory for a Le Havre side battling relegation but also reached a significant personal achievement – marking his 50th headed goal in a career filled with accolades.

What makes this accomplishment remarkable is Ayew’s height. At just 5’9”, he doesn’t possess the towering stature generally associated with dominant aerial players. Nevertheless, Ayew consistently outshines taller competitors with his remarkable leap, precise timing, and relentless determination.

From his teenage years captaining the Ghana U20 team to the present day, Ayew has perfected the technique of heading, with nearly 35% of his career goals stemming from headers.

His inaugural goal for the Black Stars – a header against Burkina Faso during the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations – set the stage for a career filled with pivotal headed contributions.

Among his notable moments are his equaliser against Germany at the 2014 World Cup and the decisive winner against South Africa at the 2015 AFCON. On the club front, Ayew has netted 43 headed goals, 11 of which have been match-winners.

The key to Ayew’s success lies in his intelligent positioning and his ability to unbalance defenders prior to his leap. By extending his legs during jumps, he generates both power and accuracy, ensuring he remains a constant threat in the air.

Heading is often regarded as one of football’s most challenging skills, yet Ayew has transformed it into a refined art form over the years, becoming increasingly dominant in aerial situations as he evolved his game from his youth.

As he moves into the later stages of his career, Ayew has tailored his style to emphasise his strengths. Although he no longer has the explosive pace of his younger days – demonstrated by completing only three out of 11 dribbles this season – his aerial dominance provides him with a distinctive advantage.

This season, Ayew has attempted seven headers, converting three into goals, which places him joint-top for headed goals in Ligue 1.

Interestingly, his Expected Goals (xG) from headers (1.62) accounts for over half of his total xG (2.93) this season. Moreover, Ayew has taken the same number of shots (7) with both his feet and his head this season.

As he ages, there’s a conscious effort to leverage his strengths, continuing to compete at the highest level.

His intentional focus on maximising his abilities underscores his commitment to remaining competitive. In a recent interview with BBC Africa, when quizzed about retirement, he confidently asserted, “I love what I’m doing, and I’m not ready to stop.”

With 75% of his goals this season scored via headers, Andre Ayew is solidifying his legacy as one of Ligue 1’s most formidable aerial threats. As he continues to evolve, he could be on course to become the ultimate “headmaster” of French football.

The Black Star Watch is an engaging weekly column penned by Owuraku Ampofo, an experienced sports journalist with over five years of reporting on Ghanaian players. This column aims to uncover trends, address pressing issues, and highlight topical discussions surrounding Ghanaian footballers.