Asamoah Gyan admits being ‘upset’ with ‘wrong timing’ of Kwesi Appiah’s decision to strip him off Ghana captaincy

Asamoah Gyan has admitted he was upset with Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah’s decision to take captain armband away from him because he felt the timing was wrong.

The 33-year-old was stripped of the captaincy a month to the start of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt.

His assistant Andre Ayew was confirmed as substantive captain while he was elevated to General captain position.

“I was very very upset but I wanted to play it safe. I didn’t want to be seen as causing confusion in camp. The timing was wrong. I think it should have come earlier, months before not when the time is near for the tournament,” he said on Super Morning Show, Friday.

“A coach can make a decision and I have to abide by it but for me, I feel like I didn’t do anything wrong. It has happened in most countries like England [where John Terry’s captain armband was taken because of scandal].

In my case, I haven’t done anything. My mind was focused on the tournament. I was injured but was trying as much possible to be fit to help my nation,” he added.

Gyan retired from the Black Stars after the decision was communicated to him that he will not lead the senior national team again.

However, he rescinded his decision after a telephone conversation with President Akufo-Addo.

Gyan failed to score at the Afcon for the first time since 2008 as he was reduced to limited playing time.

He made two late appearances against Cameroon and Tunisia as the Black Stars crashed out at the round of 16 stage.

Gyan is Ghana’s all-time leading top scorer with 51 goals in 107 appearances.