Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan is attempting to make a surprise appearance in the Qatar world cup in November for the Blackstars, emulating former Cameroon star Roger Milla.
Gyan, 36, wants to play in the 2022 World Cup despite having been out of action for 16 months.
The unattached striker last played for the Black Stars in July 2019, and he hasn’t played for a club since an appearance for Accra-based side Legon Cities in May 2021.
Gyan has 51 goals for Ghana, with six of them coming at the World Cup, where he appeared in 2006, 2010, and 2014.
These achievements make him both his country’s all-time leading goalscorer and Africa’s leading World Cup goalscorer.
He turns 37 two days before Ghana’s Group H opener against Portugal on November 24, but says his age is no barrier to playing in Qatar, citing the example of Milla.
The Cameroonian legend emerged as one of the World Cup’s stars at the age of 38. He scored four goals in Italy, each one accompanied by a dance around the corner flag that has since become a popular goal celebration.
“I haven’t announced my retirement,” he said.
“Anything can happen, you know. It’s happened before, talking about Cameroon in 1994, with Roger Milla coming back from retirement to play in a World Cup.”
Gyan’s desire to return has been backed by Christian Atsu.
— Ferdinand A Baah
