Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaian striker playing for Emirati club Al Ain, has been named the new captain of the Black Stars. Gyan is set to wear the captain’s armband for the first time in the first leg of the CAN 2013 qualifiers against Malawi in Accra in September. This decision comes as a bit of a surprise to many in the Ghanaian capital, especially considering the debates surrounding the captaincy, with some suggesting André Ayew for the role.
According to reports, making Gyan the captain is seen as a move to entrust him with a well-established role and potentially discourage any thoughts of him putting his career on hold, as he did temporarily after the 2012 CAN. There are also suggestions of a compromise between Gyan and the football federation regarding his return to the national team. John Mensah, who was previously the captain of the Black Stars, is expected to be replaced by Gyan for the upcoming match against Malawi.
Asamoah Gyan, making a return to the national team six months after his temporary retirement, has 28 goals in 61 caps with the Black Stars.
