Asamoah Gyan is a Ghanaian striker with a goal scoring touch and the ability to adapt to various international leagues, but he is also famous for speaking his mind and coming up with a few gems when he talks. AFKSports looks at a few of his most interesting quotes down the years in an effort to better understand and appreciate the Ghanaian footballer.
Source: The National, Sunderland Echo, CitiFMonline
The Black Stars striker has never been one who struggled with self-confidence and belief, and he uttered these words with regards to his ambitions at current club side Al Ain in the Arabian Gulf League, for which he has done very well.
The gifted attacker was speaking ahead of Ghana’s World Cup group stage match against the USA. The Black Stars defeated the US in a knockout game at the previous edition of the World Cup, but this time the Americans would get the better of the Ghanaians by a 201 scoreline, as goals from Clint Dempsey and John Brooks cancelled out Andre Ayew’s strike.
Ghana captain Gyan said his side would not fear anyone after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, emerging from the group of death which included the likes of South Africa, Senegal and Algeria. Ghana went on to reach the final of the competition before losing in a penalty shootout to Cote D’Ivoire.
Gyan was reacting to the heart-breaking loss to Cote D’Ivoire in the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which was decided by virtue of a penalty shootout. Gyan was substituted at the end of the encounter, before the spot kicks, as he was not planning to be involved in the tense shootout, but he still managed to find a silver lining in the youth aspect that formed an important part of the team.
The Al Ain striker was given a straight red card following a two-footed lunge on Al Hilal’s Salem Al Dawsari. The incident saw the teams come together to argue and shove one another. Gyan was then involved in a fiery argument with Romania midfielder Mihai Pintilii, reacting to what he claimed was derogatory language from the opposition player.
Gyan did not hide how pleased he was with his first goal for new side Sunderland in 2010, when he joined them for a club record £13million from French side Rennes before the transfer window closed. He made his debut against Wigan and made an immediate impact with a goal from a volley, though the match ended 1-1.
Ghana came within inches of progressing to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals against Uruguay, and would have done so had it not been for a hand ball from Luis Suarez, who automatically became a hated man in Africa because of the action, and his reaction to Gyan missing the subsequent penalty minutes before Uruguay went on to win the penalty shootout. Reflecting on the moment a few months later, Gyan said that he had forgiven the striker for his handball on the night.
Gyan has had his troubles with regards to taking penalties for the national team, famously missing key spot kicks for the Black Stars at moments when his leadership under pressure was needed most. After a number of these high profile misses, he vowed not to take any more, following through by not taking one in the 2015 AFCON final, but now it seems that he may reconsider that position.
Gyan was pleased with his side’s 2-2 draw with Germany at the 2014 World Cup during the group stages, and the result was even more impressive in retrospect when considering the fact that Germany went on to be crowned as world champions later on in the tournament.
Guan’s talents are not restricted to the football pitch, as he also cultivates a music career in Ghana, going by the name of BabyJet. In the video above you can see and hear him singing from minute 3:30. In this particular music video, artist Castro teams up again with Gyan for a love song titled ‘Odo Pa’.