Ghana's all-time leader Gyan announces international retirement

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Ghana's all-time leading goal-scorer Asamoah Gyan announced his international retirement on Monday, a month before the start of the African Nations Cup. The news follows shortly after he was removed as the national team's captain.

Striker Gyan has not featured for the side since September 2017 after persistent injury problems and has also battled for game-time with his Turkish club Kayserispor.

"Upon consultation with my family and team, and as an active footballer and captain of the national team, if the decision of the coach is to give captaincy of the tournament to another player while I am named in the team (squad) of the tournament, I wish to recuse myself from the tournament," Gyan said in a statement.

"I also wish to retire from the national team permanently," he said.

The 33-year-old former Chinese Super League (CSL) striker, who reportedly earned 20 million euros per week at Shanghai SIPG between 2015 and 2017, has scored seven times in 20 CSL appearances.

Gyan (C) of Shanghai SIPG competes for the ball during the CSL match against Shanghai Shenhua, March 2016. /VCG Photo

Before moving from the United Arab Emirates to China, Gyan led UAE super league club Al Ain to three league titles and one President's Cup crown, scoring the winner in 2014 final.

The Ghana international won the UAE top flight's Golden Boot three times and was the top scorer in the 2014 Asian Champions League, notching 12 times as Al Ain made it to the semi-finals.

Gyan has netted 51 goals in 106 international appearances, both Ghana national team records, which includes scoring at six consecutive Nations Cup finals, as well as three World Cups between 2006 and 2014.

Gyan's six World Cup goals are the most by an African player.

Source(s): Reuters