Amidst calls from some quarters to include him in Ghana’s squad for the upcoming Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup, former captain Asamoah Gyan has disclosed what must happen before he can be at the Mundial.
The all-time top scorer for the Black Stars, now 36, last played competitive football on May 15, 2021 – a late cameo for former club Legon Cities in a 1-0 away defeat to WAFA SC in the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
⏰ 90’@ASAMOAH_GYAN3 is on for Issaka Mohammed.
WAFA 🤍 [1-0] ♥️ LCFC #GPLwk25 #WAFALegonCities pic.twitter.com/kecnTIufWU
— Legon Cities FC (@LegonCitiesFC) May 15, 2021
Gyan still feels he has some football in him but readily admits he is currently not physically fit to play at the senior national team level.
In an interview on Peace FM Monday, the striker insisted on the basic principle of having to earn his spot other than being gifted to join the Ghana party to Qatar later in November.
“Since I haven’t retired, I think I have to earn the call-up,” Gyan pointed out.
“I have to train and play actively for a club and also perform so that I can get the call-up.
“For me, I think earning the call-up shouldn’t be about the number of goals I have scored in the past. I have to be fit, playing actively for a team before I accept the call-up,” he explained.
The former Sunderland star went on: “It is possible looking at the Roger Milla and what happened, but the most important thing is I think it will all depend on me.
“I have to be fit physically, I think I am naturally gifted and I can do anything on the field but physically I don’t think I am ready.
“I am not fit to play and have to lose some weight, have to be in the right shape to play competitive football but now I am not”, he added.
Asamoah Gyan has played in all three of Ghana’s Fifa World Cup outings – 2006, 2010, and 2014 where he was captain. He currently holds the record as the top-scoring African in the competition.
Gyan is preparing to launch his memoir at the end of April.
