Former Ghana head coach, James Kwesi Appiah, has shed light on his decision to transfer the captaincy from Asamoah Gyan to Andre Ayew ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Egypt. Appiah, aged 63 and currently the head coach of Sudan, revealed that Gyan’s declining performance indicated he would not be a starter at the continental tournament.

“In modern football, it’s not just about the name, and Gyan’s strength had diminished compared to previous years,” explained Appiah in an interview with Modern Ghana. He emphasized that, as captain, Gyan needed to be on the pitch to effectively lead and control the game, which influenced his decision to make the change.

Appiah acknowledged Gyan’s significant contributions to the national team and explained that despite concerns about his form, he took Gyan to the competition as a gesture of appreciation for his service to the nation. Gyan, the all-time leading goalscorer of the Ghana national team with 51 goals, retired from professional football in June of the previous year.

The former captain represented Ghana in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 FIFA World Cups, leaving a remarkable legacy as the top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with 6 goals.