Derek Boateng retires from international football

Ghana international Derek Boateng has bowed out of international football.

The 34-year-old calls time on his Black Stars career after making over 40 appearances.

“Right now, it’s like I’m old in the game and when it comes to the national team, we have so many good young players who run a lot, so I’ve decided to stay back,” Boateng told Metro TV.

“A player like Christian Atsu can run you rugged for 90 minutes. You’ll need to pick a taxi before you can match his speed.

"Combining national team and club duties is sometimes difficult because it involves a lot of travel. It’s tough to keep up with it.

“I’ve had a lot of games under my belt and I think it’s time I accept reality.

"I’m very proud of my achievements with the team. It’s a joy to have served my country at the highest level.”

Following an impressive performance at the 2001 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, Boateng made Ghana's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Mali the following year.

He was also selected for the 2012 and 2013 AFCON tournaments.

At the global level, the former Panathinaikos forward represented the Black Stars at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments, albeit he failed to take to the pitch at the second event.