Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo Addo has reportedly asked football star, Asamoah Gyan not to retire from the national team, the black stars.
The all-time leading scorer for Ghana’s black stars, announced his shocking retirement on Monday, barley a month to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
In a statement, the striker said he will not be available for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt.
His decision according to local media was due to the decision by the coach to replace him as captain during the AFCON.
But Ghana’s President on Tuesday held a meeting with the management committee of the Black Stars and the Ghana FA Normalization Committee.
He also spoke to the player to urge him not to retire from the team and make himself available for selection.
The statement from the presidency said the president “informed him of the considerable national disquiet over his decision to retire from the Black Stars.
The President urged him, in the national interest, to rescind his decision to retire from the Black Stars, and make himself available for selection by Coach Kwasi Appiah.”
But the player is yet to respond to the call from the president not to retire from the team.
Later today, my manager @AnimSammy will be speaking on my behalf regarding my retirement from the national team. I will also release a statement based on the telephone discussion with the president @NAkufoAddo
— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) May 22, 2019
Gyan records
Gyan made his international debut at the age of 17. He scored on his senior International debut for Ghana against Somalia on 19 November 2003.
Since then, he has gone on to make 106 appearances for the Black Stars scoring a total of 51 goals
As the all-time leading goal-scorer of the Ghana national team, he represented Ghana at 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup competitions.
With 6 goals, he is the top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup.
Gyan has also represented Ghana at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He played in seven Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017. He helped Ghana finish in third-place in 2008 and runner-up in 2010 and 2015.
Reactions from fans
We will appreciate your retirement. Let other people also get the opportunity to serve the country.
Kindly stick to your retirement decision please.— Ben gc Adetor (@BenAdetor) May 22, 2019
In order to still be relevant and respectful just stay by your earliest release.
— Aziz Abinye (@Abinye03) May 22, 2019
A return will destabilize and heightened the disunity in camp, no matter the justification u give for u have already made it clear that u hate not being the captain. In the team’s interest it is better u stay out.
— Nana Quami Boadu (@boylevelz) May 22, 2019
You’ve played your part. It’s not as if your inclusion or exclusion will win us the Cup. Your retirement letter was expansive enough, don’t eat back your words after some few hours. That’s not something men of honour do. Stay retired Asamoah, you’ve paid your dues.
— LOCAL MAN™ (@__AningYeboah) May 22, 2019
Source: Africafeeds.com