That was a nervy couple of days there. Asamoah Gyan has reversed his decision to retire from international football, two days after making his initial announcement.
The Ghana legend made the announced on Monday that he had retired from the international game, and would not take part in the African Cup of Nations in Egypt next month. The decision was made due to a disagreement with manager Kwesi Appiah, who asked Gyan to give up the captaincy. Probably a fair enough request considering he hasn't played for his country since September 2017.
The nation's leading scorer released a long statement explaining why he would no longer play for his country, featuring one of the best openings we have seen to a statement in some time:
“My mother once told me, 'you cannot tout a decision you did not take as betrayal, because you have to expect it'. I still do not understand that statement anyway.
Gyan would go on to explain in great detail why he would no longer appear for Ghana, which essentially boiled dow to the disrespect his manager had shown him by stripping him of the captaincy. It was definitive.
Except clearly it wasn't. Gyan today announced that he would play in AFCON after all, and it's all thanks to Ghana's president. The former Sunderland striker took to Twitter to inform his followers that he had reversed his decision after a request from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
A presidential request is one that cannot be disregarded. I have had the opportunity to speak with the father of the nation, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, though respecting my wishes as spelt in my letter of 20th May, 2019, has asked me to rescind my decision to retire permanently from the Black Stars.
I have taken the request of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in good faith, and will make myself available for selection by coach Kwasi Appiah.
My desire to help Ghana end the over three-decade long wait to annex the AFCON trophy still burns strong, and I remain committed to serving this great nation and the people of Ghana.
Fair play to him. Still somehow only 33-years old, the former Sunderland star will be hoping to lead Ghana to their first tournament victory since 1982.
