Audio By Carbonatix
Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan says the injury-time winner against Algeria in 2015 is his favourite Africa Cup of Nations moment.
Gyan told Joy Sports, as part of the team’s continuous buildup to this year’s continental showpiece in Egypt, where Ghana has been drawn in Group F alongside champions Cameroon, Guinea Bissau and Benin.
With Ghana facing early elimination in Equatorial Guinea due to an opening game defeat against Senegal, Gyan, who was making a return from a mild bout of malaria, produced a moment of magic to rescue the Black Stars.
The striker showed his class when he took the ball from Wakaso Mubarak in his stride and, with the Algeria defender Carl Medjani closing him down, produced a bobbling shot that beat the goalkeeper, Rais Mbolhi, from a tight angle.
“That day, it was quite impossible. In life, that’s what we always say, everything is possible. Honestly, I was the happiest man and my celebration even surprised me because I was weak,” Gyan recounted.
“I said to myself did this just happened? It was amazing because everything sounded like Ghana was out of the competition.”
“I will never forget this day, never forget it because I felt so happy and wanted to dance all over the place like I usually do but I was weak. The players were very happy and they told me they will never forget what I did.”
The 1-0 win set the tone for Black Stars to top the group and go all the way to final which they lost on penalties to Ivory Coast.
The 33-year-old has represented Ghana in six successive Afcon tournaments since 2008, scoring in all six competitions – the only player to do so.
He has managed to reach the final twice in 2010 and 2015 but will be hoping to finally get his hands on the trophy this year.
Gyan is Ghana’s leading top scorer with 51 goals.
Latest Stories
-
Arise Ghana demands stronger commitment to end galamsey
1 minute -
96% of Ghanaian pensioners willing to work beyond retirement age – Study
5 minutes -
Ghana gets nuclear power plant simulator
11 minutes -
Temporary Akosombo power control facility to be ready by September – Energy Ministry
12 minutes -
GMTF, Atlantic Lifesciences explore local production of cancer and heart medicines
16 minutes -
GHS medical-legal claims hit GH¢400m in three years
22 minutes -
Mahama cautions Ghanaians not to take religious freedom for granted
38 minutes -
We need development pathway, not selection exercise – Sports Minister urges football stakeholders
45 minutes -
Government prioritises foundational learning to improve education outcomes
51 minutes -
Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire deepen maritime security cooperation through joint boundary inspection
57 minutes -
Three-hour rainfall exposes poor drainage system in Kadjebi
1 hour -
Ghana, China push AI innovation in healthcare
1 hour -
Give young people skills and the systems to create jobs
1 hour -
Food inflation never responded – Dr Yamson says Ghana must stop throwing money at short-term fixes
2 hours -
Oil set for second weekly rise as unsettled US-Iran war crimps supply
2 hours