Former Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan has stated that management’s decision to strip him of the captain armband during his days with the team was an act of betrayal.
Ex Coach of the team, Kwasi Appiah stripped Gyan of the Black Stars captaincy and elevated Andre Dede Ayew who was a deputy of the position in 2019 prior to the Africa Cup of Nations staged in Egypt.
Asamoah Gyan was however made the General Captain of the Black Stars. He then announced his retirement from the senior national team but reverted his decision after the intervention of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
But, three years after the development, the country’s all-time leading goal scorer has stated that he felt betrayed.
“The only thing I can say is that I felt betrayed so I couldn’t control my emotions I felt really really bad and betrayed. People who know me and everything behind the scenes know that I was betrayed; that’s the only thing I can say” he told Asaase radio.
The former Sunderland, Rennes and Udinese goal poacher also admitted that irrespective of everything that has happened in the past, his love for Ghana is beyond reasonability.
“I don’t think anybody loves Ghana more than I do…and despite all my experiences [with the national team], in my small corner, I always support the Ghana Black Stars” Asamoah Gyan said.
The 36-year-old last played for the Black Stars during the 2019 AFCON when Ghana got eliminated at the round of 16 to eventual winners, Cameroon.
Asamoah Gyan made his senior debut for Ghana at the age of 17 against Somalia on 19 November 2003. He continued to score 51 goals in 109 appearances from 2003 to 2019, making him the country’s all-time leading goal scorer.
He represented Ghana at the 2004 Summer Olympics and as well as seven Africa Cup of Nations, i.e 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, helping the team finish in third-place in 2008 and runner-up in 2010 and 2015 respectively.
With six goals, he holds the record as Africa’s top goalscorer in history of the FIFA World Cup.
