Asamoah Gyan quits Ghana’s national team
February 19th, 2012 - 5:04 pm ICT by IANSAccra, Feb 19 (IANS) Ghana’s football star Asamoah Gyan has retired from the national team, the Black Stars, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed in a statement issued here.
The Al Ain star sent a letter to the GFA late Friday night informing them of his decision, which had the “full support of family and friends”.
The GFA statement said Gyan was frustrated over the verbal abuse he has received since playing for the country at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The GFA talked with Gyan to convince him to reconsider his decision, the statement added. Gyan, who has scored 28 goals in 59 games for Ghana, cited the “intolerable” abuse he suffered after the Black Stars exit from the recent African Cup of Nations as the reason for his sudden announcement.
The 26-year-old netted on his debut against Somalia nine years ago.
Gyan became “public enemy No. 1″ after missing a crucial penalty in Ghana’s 1-0 semifinal defeat to Zambia, with many Ghanaian football lovers accusing him for the loss.
The penalty he missed was similar to the one he missed at the quarterfinal against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup, Xinhua reports.
Gyan has said that it was “an incredible honour” to represent his country having made his debut as a 17-year-old in 2003.
- Ghana disappointed at semi-final loss in African Cup soccer - Feb 09, 2012
- Ghana to decide football's coach fate - Feb 23, 2012
- Ghana sacks Serbian football coach - Mar 20, 2012
- Ghana football association dismisses player gambling rumour - Feb 18, 2012
- Ghana president backs soccer team to fight back - Feb 17, 2012
- SAFA apologizes to Ghana over age-cheating claims - Apr 27, 2012
- Ghana names Maxwell Konadu as assistant coach - May 04, 2012
- Uruguay aren't cheats, says coach - Jul 03, 2010
- Ghana to provide bonuses for African Cup title - Jan 11, 2012
- Africa mourns Ghana's exit in World Cup - Jul 03, 2010
- Ghana announce squad for 2014 World Cup qualifiers - May 19, 2012
- Gyan vows to bounce back after shock penalty miss - Jul 03, 2010
- Uruguay end Ghana fairy tale, reach semis (Roundup) - Jul 03, 2010
- Ghana midfielder Michael Essien ruled out of World Cup through injury - May 28, 2010
- Ghana football mourns death of African stars - May 09, 2012
Tags: 2010 world cup, africa cup of nations, african cup of nations, al ain, asamoah gyan, black stars, family and friends, football lovers, football star, friday night, ghana football association, ghana football association gfa, honour, nine years, public enemy, public enemy no 1, quarterfinal, sudden announcement, verbal abuse, xinhua