After a five month break from international football, Al Ain striker Asamoah Gyan has announced that he will now resume playing for Ghana and hopes to add to the 59 appearances he has already made for his country.
Gyan decided to take an “indefinite break” from the national side after missing a crucial penalty during Ghana’s 1-0 semi-final defeat to Zambia in February’s African Cup of Nations. After the incident he was an unpopular man in Ghana as they were favourites for the competition and many felt Gyan had let his country down.
It was not the first time Gyan had failed to deliver at an important moment. Ghana were on the verge of becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2010 but Gyan squandered a last-minute penalty kick which would have seen his side progress and they ultimately lost during a penalty shootout.
The 26-year old explained the reasons for his break last month and told Peace FM: “It was due to some psychological reasons. The penalty misses have affected me a little and not the criticisms. I expect the criticisms. It’s normal in the game.
“I had to take a break so I can psyche myself well. My confidence in the national team had gone low and I hope to return with bigger confidence.”
Gyan re-iterated that he had not retired from international football but had taken a break and would consider a return to the Ghanaian side. National team coach Kwesi Appiah travelled to the UAE in May to try and convince the striker to return to the international scene and his efforts have been rewarded.
After a season-long loan at Al Ain, Gyan made his transfer to the UAE champions permanent last week and made the announcement from the team’s pre-season training camp in Austria. He said: “The decision to return was made with the incredible support of my family, friends and the football family of Ghana.
“I am fully focused on our clear goals ahead, in helping my nation qualify for both the AFCON 2013 and the World Cup in 2014.”
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