Ghana’s legendary striker Asamoah Gyan rescinded his international retirement on Wednesday.
“A presidential request is one that cannot be disregarded.
“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,” he wrote in a statement.
Gyan abruptly announced the decision to recuse himself from the impending Africa Cup of Nations and retire from the Black Stars permanently via a statement Monday evening – one which dismayed many including president of the Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo.
READ MORE: STATEMENT: Asamoah Gyan in shock Ghana retirement
The Ghana leader, according to a Facebook post by presidential spokesperson Eugene Arhin Tuesday night confirmed a meeting involving the Minister for Youth and Sports, the President of the GFA Normalization Committee and the Chair of the Management Committee of the Senior National Football Team, the Black Stars was held over the country’s preparations for the Afcon earlier in the day.
“…The meeting, a continuation of the regular meetings the President holds with them, discussed, amongst others, the preparations being made towards AFCON 2019, and how to end Ghana’s AFCON trophy drought.
“President Akufo-Addo, subsequently, also spoke on the telephone with Asamoah Gyan, and informed him of the considerable national disquiet over his decision to retire from the Black Stars.
“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 Kwasi Appiah,” Arhin wrote.
Asamoah Gyan, whose retirement premised on the decision to hand his captaincy to another player at the Nations Cup, took to twitter Wednesday morning to announce that his management team will be giving an update on his retirement “based on the telephone discussion with the Ghana President.”
Later today, my manager @AnimSammy will be speaking on my behalf regarding my retirement from the national team. I will also release a statement based on the telephone discussion with the president @NAkufoAddo
— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) May 22, 2019
Per the U-turn by the 33-year-old makes himself available for a seventh Afcon bow for the Black Stars in Egypt in the capacity of ‘General Captain’ as desired by coach Kwasi Appiah.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations is also expected to be announced today. The Black Stars will begin their tournament preparations in the United Arab Emirates from the first week of June.
A presidential request is one that cannot be disregarded.
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 @AnimSammy @PrinxRandy @BaffourGyan4 pic.twitter.com/WSlHZrjWrd
— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) May 22, 2019
