Musician Gyan strikes right notes for Ghana
Ghana skipper and part-time musician Asamoah Gyan has hit the right
notes leading up to Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final
against Cape Verde here.
Gyan appeared overweight and almost disinterested in his team's first
two Group B games against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali, but
the striker nicknamed 'Baby Jet' finally found his bearings against
Niger last Monday.
He fired the Black Stars in front after just six minutes before
setting up young Christian Atsu for the second goal.
And just after the interval, John Boye smashed home a third goal from
a rebound after the Niger goalkeeper could not hold a powerful,
close-range Gyan header. Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah rates 27-year-old Gyan
as the country's best striker and a big inspiration to a squad with 11
debutants at the Nations Cup. "He's our best player. He did well against
Niger and I know he can do even better," remarked Appiah.
"He also does a lot off the pitch and the players respect him." The
former Sunderland striker is expected to lead his country to their first
continental trophy since 1982 when they defeated hosts Libya in a final
settled by penalties. "Everybody is worried that we have not won this
competition in the past 31 years. It's being quite a long time since we
won," he said.
"We will continue to fight together and win together so as to do so.
"We have now qualified beyond the group stage and are on course to lift
the Cup." It was only five years ago when Gyan and older brother Baffour
threatened to walk out on the squad because of the criticism from fans
when Ghana hosted the tournament.
AFP |