Gyan saga: Kwesi Appiah erred – Nyaho-Tamakloe

A former Ghana FA boss Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has lashed out at Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah over how he stripped Asamoah Gyan of the captaincy.

Gyan has called time on his international career after the coach informed him of his decision to hand over the armband to another player ahead of the Africa Nations Cup in Egypt.

“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 for the tournament, I wish to recuse myself from the tournament,” Gyan said in a statement.

He added: “I also wish to retire from the national team permanently; not pretending my presence would not fuel the purported undermining the country has seen under my captaincy.”

Reacting to the news, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe criticized the coach’s approach, justifying the striker’s decision because “he [the coach] has disgraced.”

“He’s been with the Black Stars for years and if you’re going to have a tournament of that standard you’re not going to treat your captain that way,” Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe told Starr News’ Ibrahim Alhassan Tuesday.

Asked whether Gyan took the right decision to quit the national team, he said: “It’s natural and that’s how humans behavior. You’ve disgraced him.”

He insisted the Kayserispor arrowhead deserves to be at the 2019 continental showpiece due to his experience.

He added: “I don’t know who advised Appiah to do that. He is totally wrong. I feel Asamoah should be part of the team. I think Appiah has made a big mistake.”

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe has predicted whoever replaces Gyan will have a tough time because the playing body will sabotage him.

“The boys have known Asamoah Gyan for years. Whoever is going to be named as a captain now might perform abysmally. There will be a sabotage.”

Gyan made his international debut at the age of 17 and scored on his senior International debut for Ghana against Somalia on 19 November 2003 in the 90th minute. Since then, he has gone on to make 106 appearances for the Black Stars scoring a total of 51 goals

As the all-time leading goalscorer of the Ghana national team, with 51 goals, he represented Ghana at 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. With 6 goals, he is the top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup. Gyan has also represented Ghana at the 2004 Summer Olympics and in seven Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017, helping them finish in third-place in 2008 and runner-up in 2010 and 2015.