Few days after announcing his retirement from international football, Black Star of Ghana striker, Asamoah Gyan has bowed to a presidential request to make himself available for next month’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be hosted by Egypt.
Confirming the president’s intervention through a statement issued on Wednesday, government spokesperson, Eugene Arhin said President Akufo-Addo urged Gyan to rescind his decision to retire from Ghana’s national football team in the nation’s interest.
“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 Kwesi Appiah,” Arhin said in the statement.
Gyan, Ghana’s all-time leading goal-scorer announced his international retirement on Monday, a month before the start of the African Nations Cup and shortly after he was removed as the national team’s captain.
“I have taken the request of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in good faith and will make myself available for selection by coach Kwasi Appiah to help win the AFCON trophy. A presidential request is one that cannot be disregarded,” Gyan tweeted.
The 33-year-old netted 51 goals in 106 international appearances ( both Ghana national team records) and took part in six consecutive Nations Cup finals as well as three World Cups between 2006 and 2014.
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