Audio By Carbonatix
Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has described Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy drought as frustrating.
Gyan featured in seven AFCON championships where the national team reached the final twice against Egypt in 2010 and Cote d'Ivoire in 2015, losing both.
Despite the team's ever presence in the last four in the last seven editions bar 2019, the country's wait to win the tournament appears unending, and Gyan who captained the team in the 2015 final, said it has been difficult to accept.
"It's been quite frustrating, because since 2008, our worse has been the semi-final," Gyan said after the 2021 AFCON draw in Cameroon.
"We've always been coming closer to the title but not getting it.
"So I think everyone back home wants the cup; it doesn't matter about the performance, it's about the cup and that's what we are preparing for," he stated.
Asamoah Gyan joined Rabah Madjer of Algeria, former Cote d'Ivoire captain, Didier Drogba, and Cameroon's iconic footbllar, Samuel Etoo to conduct the 2021 tournament draw.
Ghana's Black Stars has been housed in Group C alongside Morocco, Comoros, and Gabon.
The four-time African champions will open their campaign against Morocco, a side that conceded just a one-goal during the qualifiers before facing Gabon and debutants Comoros.
Gyan who, scored in nine consecutive tournaments for the Black Stars, said though the group is not as easy as it appears, he is optimistic the 2015 finalists will progress.
“I think it’s a tricky group," Gyan said after helping to conduct the draw.
"Morocco is up there, I think they conceded just one goal in the qualifiers which statistically is one of the strongest in the group,” he noted.
“Ghana is also up there. I will be rooting for my country but everybody who has qualified for the African Cup of Nations is coming to win [it].”
“Statistically, we’re up there but we don’t know what’s going to happen.
"We just have to stay focus and do what we can do to qualify from this group, because, without the group, you can not think about winning the cup,” the Black Stars all-time leading goalscorer added.
"So we have to make sure we qualify from the group before we can think about winning the cup.
The Black be Stars will be based in Cameroon's capital Yaounde and will open their campaign against Morocco, followed by Gabon and then wrap up against Comoros.
Their first match against Morocco is scheduled for January 10, before playing Comoros and Gabon on January 14 and 18 respectively.
Latest Stories
-
Tourist plane crashes in Peru, killing 13
5 minutes -
Trump says he is cancelling strikes on Iran subject to deal being made ‘rapidly’
13 minutes -
‘Our hearts are with everyone affected’ — Shatta Wale’s management after ShattaFest UK tragedy
7 hours -
Tech for Girls founder Johanna Swaniker calls for investment to expand digital skills programme in Ghana
8 hours -
NSMQ 2026: Mim SHS, Serwaa Kesse Girls’ and Presec Bechem book national championship spots
9 hours -
Mahama orders roadmap to expand TOR’s refining capacity to 100,000 barrels a day
9 hours -
New Dagbon regent vows to preserve peace and uphold rotational succession
9 hours -
Bills Micro Credit champions health and culture at ‘Homowo Health Walk’
9 hours -
Resetting Ghana: creating jobs, ensuring accountability, and promoting shared prosperity — the role of CIPAC
9 hours -
Trump reaffirms U.S. recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara
9 hours -
Glasgow 2026: Ghana stripped of historic Commonwealth relay bronze after Canada wins appeal
11 hours -
ShattaFest UK cancelled over stampede incident
11 hours -
Mahama commissions refurbished TOR Crude Distillation Unit, commends management for turnaround
11 hours -
‘Your degree opens the door, but your skills take you further’ – MoMo’s Makafui Mattah urges students
11 hours -
GMet forecasts thunderstorms in northern Ghana, rain expected in parts of the country
12 hours