Asamoah Gyan retires from Ghana ahead of 2019 AFCON

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday May 21, 2019. 10:00

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect.

The accomplished striker made the announcement on a statement indicating that he will also not be available for the upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

“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 for the tournament, I wish to recuse myself from the tournament."

“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.

“I would continue to serve the country Ghana in other endeavours as a businessman through various investments," a statement read.

Gyan is Ghana's all-time leading goalscorer with 51 goals having represented Ghana at 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.

The 33-year-old player also represented the Black Stars in seven AFCON finals in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017.