Article By: Bernard Osei Esar
Ghanaian striker, Asamoah Gyan has rescinded on his decision to permanently stay in retirement after he announced his decision in less than 48 hours.
His decision to return comes on the back of his claimed phone call with the President of Ghana, Nana Akuffo-Addo. The President however also spoke to head coach, Kwesi Appiah on Baby Jet’s decision.
This back and forth decision making is one that clearly doesn’t take the team anywhere and after all, isn’t retirement a singular decision and honour having considered all factors that may affect change of mind?
Here we are as a country with just a month to go scrambling over who makes it to African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 in Egypt and who should be made the captain.
If the decision of James Kwesi Appiah to name Asamoah Gyan as general captain was enough to retire him, a presidential request should not make him consider to “unretired”.
What will this decision of his to be open for a call up after the head coach have formally listed the players he will be taking to Dubai and subsequently to Egypt be to the development of the team?
Asamoah Gyan who played a pivotal role in the reappointment of Kwesi Appiah as the latter was axed after a non performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will be going into the tournament as captain of the team.
How will the mood be in camp? Will there be friction between himself, the head coach and André Ayew? Will the players take sides? And to say, what next will be faith and attitude of young players coming through the ranks of the Black Stars?
Asamoah Gyan has well served Ghana, although his retirement was untimely, his decision to rescind his own retirement announcement is far beyond reach as the excuse of a presidential request and this to say give credence to the cat and mouse fight that has been within the Black Stars of Ghana.
Kwesi Appiah has however recalled him into the team and has dropped Dalian Yifang striker, Emmanuel Boateng.
The below is the full squad for the players called up to the Black Stars by James Kwesi Appiah:
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United, South Africa, Lawrence Ati- Zigi (Sochaux, Montbeliard, France), and Felix Annan (Asante Kotoko, Ghana).
Defenders: John Boye (Metz, France), Andy Yiadom (Reading, England), Abdul Baba Rahman (Reims, France), Lumor Agbenyenu (Goztepe A.S, Turkey), Kassim Nuhu, (Hoffeinham, Germany,) Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew SC, USA), Joseph Aidoo (Genk, Belguim), Nuhu Musa (St Gallen, Switzerland), Joseph Attamah (Basaksehir, Turkey), and Mohammed Alhassan (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)
Midfielders
Mubarak Wakaso (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Internazionle, Italy), Ebenezer Ofori (New York FC, USA), Afriyie Acquah (Empoli, Italy), Andre Ayew ( Fenerbache, Turkey), Christian Atsu (Newcastle United, England), Samuel Owusu (Cukaricki, Serbia), Thomas Agyepong (Hibernian, Scotland), Yaw Yeboah (Numancia, Spain), Abdul Fatawu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana).
Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Kayserispor, Turkey), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England), Abdul Majeed Waris ( Nantes, France), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor, Turkey) and Kwabena Owusu (Leganes, Spain).
The team will depart Accra on June 1,2019 in bid to prepare for the tournament in Egypt. The team will play two friendly games against Namibia and South Africa before the tournament kicks start officially.
