Ghana's Asamoah Gyan rescinds retirement decision after talks with president

Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 04:02:52|Editor: yan
Video PlayerClose

ACCRA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has rescinded his decision to retire from the national team, the Black Stars, following a telephone conversation with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Gyan said a presidential request is one that cannot be disregarded adding that he has taken the president's request in good faith and will make himself available for selection by head coach Kwesi Appiah.

"My desire to help Ghana end the over three-decade-long wait to annex the AFCON trophy still burns strong and I remain committed to serving this great nation and the people of Ghana," he said.

Gyan, a former Shanghai SIPG striker, announced his retirement from the senior national male soccer team on Monday and also recused himself from the AFCON tournament following the decision of the head coach to hand the captaincy to another player.

The decision comes barely a month to the start of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

However, President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday night urged the attacker to rescind his retirement decision and make himself available for selection by the coach, in the national interest.

Ghana are in Group F of the AFCON together with Cameroon, Benin, and Guinea Bissau.

The 2019 AFCON, with its new 24-team format, will run from June 21 to July 19.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105521380812901