Ghana bid to get Gyan out of retirement
Reuters - Sunday 19 February 2012, 16:18
Ghana will attempt to get
Asamoah Gyan to go back on a decision to prematurely end
his international career because of abuse from disappointed
fans, the country's football association said in a statement.
Gyan announced his intention to quit the national side after
criticism for the penalty miss against Zambia in the Africa Cup of
Nations semi-final this month.
"The Ghana Football Association has received a letter from
striker Asamoah Gyan announcing his decision to take a temporary
break from the Black Stars," the ruling body said.
"Gyan is frustrated over the verbal abuse he has received
since playing for the country at the 2012 Africa Nations Cup.
The GFA is in talks with Gyan to urge him to reconsider his
decision."
Gyan managed just one goal at the Africa Cup of Nations in
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, where the Black Stars had been
among the favourites but finished fourth.
The former Sunderland striker, now playing club football in
the United Arab Emirates, was also criticised by fans at the
2008 Nations Cup which Ghana hosted.
But he won widespread sympathy two years later at the World
Cup in South Africa after missing a last-minute penalty against
Uruguay which would have earned Ghana the prestige of becoming
the first African country to each the semi-finals.