Ghana’s most cap player and all-time goalscorer Asamoah Gyan has announced his retirement from international football ahead of the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations.
The 33-year-old striker announced his retirement from the Black Stars just hours before the announcement of the 30-man provisional team for the tournament by coach James Kwesi Appiah.
The reasons for his retirement are well documented in a two paged document he released on Monday afternoon at a time when Appiah was to name a 30-man provisional squad.
“If the decision of the coach is to give the captaincy of the tournament to another player while I am named in the team of the tournament, I wish to recuse myself from the [AFCON] tournament,” the statement read.
“I also wish to retire from the national team permanently; not pretending my presence would not fuel the purported undermining the country has seen under my captaincy,”
Gyan feud with his vice-captain Andre Ayew has been a public secret for some time and on many occasions, the Black Stars camp has been divided by the presence of the two.
“I have represented the proud colors of our Country in 10 major tournaments from the Olympics, World Cups and in African Nations Cups with different coaches.”
“I have been in the team since 2003 and have played with some members of the technical team who were my seniors,” he added.
Matters have not been helped by the relationship of head coach Appiah and former Black Stars captain Abedi Pele who is the father of Andre and Jordan Ayew.
Currently playing for Turkish side Kayserispor, Gyan played 106 games for Ghana national team and managed 51 goals.
The 33 year old will forever be remembered for missing a penalty in added time of extra of Ghana’s quarterfinal tie against Uruguay at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Uruguay went on to win the shootout 4–2.
