Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah announced that he decided to offload Olympique Marseille midfielder Andre Ayew from the team's squad that will take part in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after his inability to join the Black Stars' doctors to assess the extent of his injury and fitness for the tournament.

"I have decided to exclude midfielder Andre Ayew from the Ghana squad for the 2013 African Cup of Nations," Appiah announced on Ghana FA website.

"All the players were given the deadline of Saturday to report to camp in Abu Dhabi unfortunately Andre did not turn up despite being released by his club and air tickets provided by the GFA for him to travel from France to beat the deadline," he added.

"As he did not turn up by Saturday night, I ordered for him to be contacted over his absence but he said he could not depart from France because he was seeing his doctors,"

Early last December, the Marseille forward refused to comment on the decision of Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah to leave him out of the African Nations squad, only saying that he will always support the national team.

"Such decisions are part of the life of any footballer," Ayew told French magazine France Football.

"I have only 21 years and I am sure that I will take the chance soon. As I will follow the Nations Cup on the screens, I hope that Ghana succeed this time to win the title. I will always be Ghana' supporter," he added. 

Ayew has been a key member of Marseille' squad this season, playing 17 Ligue 1 matches and scoring four goals.

Ghana, who won the African title four times, are looking to win their first title since 1982, as they will play in Group B alongside DR Congo, Mali and Niger in the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

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