Asamoah Gyan Ends International Footballing Career

Ghana’s skipper and all-time leading goal-scorer, Asamoah Gyan has ended his international football career just a month before the start of the African Cup of Nations.

Gyan said he took the decision because the team’s coach Kwesi Appiah denied him the opportunity to captain the Black Stars at the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt next month.

The prolific striker who was recently removed as Ghana’s national team’s captain, has not featured for the Black Stars of Ghana team since September 2017 and has continued to battle for game-time with his Turkish club Kayserispor owing to persistent injuries.

“Upon consultation with my family and team, and as an active footballer and captain of the national team, if the decision of the coach is to give captaincy of the tournament to another player while I am named in the team (squad) of the tournament, I wish to recuse myself from the tournament,” Gyan announced in a statement.

“I also wish to retire from the national team permanently,” he added.

The 33-year-old netted 51 goals in 106 international appearances, both Ghana national team records, which includes scoring at six consecutive Nations Cup finals, as well as three World Cups between 2006 and 2014.

Gyan’s six World Cup goals is the most by an African player.

Also Read: Tobechukwu Phillips Breaks American School’s 125-year Academic History