Finder Sports investigations within the corridors of the Ghana Football Association have revealed that Real Madrid and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien was the favourite to land the Black Stars captain’s armband but his indecision over when to return to the senior national team made it difficult for officials of the FA to settle on him.
‘Essien was always first choice but we didn’t and don’t know when he would return to the team so we could not take any chances. We called him and asked him when he was going to return to the team but he could not give us a specific time. He only said he was going to return soon,” the source added.
Essien has not played for the national team in over a year following a series of career threatening injuries he suffered while with the Black Stars and Chelsea Football Club.
The source who spoke to Finder Sports on condition of anonymity also revealed that even though in terms of long service and dedication John Paintsil stood tall above his colleagues in the national team, there was unanimity on the part of the playing body regarding Gyan’s appointment as captain.
‘The senior players in the team were all consulted before the appointment of Gyan as captain. None of them had a problem and John Mensah was also told about the changes,’ the source said.
Gyan’s appointment as captain of the Ghana team comes after the elevation of defender John Mensah to the role of general captain of the team.
Gyan is expected to lead the Black Stars at next year’s African Nations Cup to be hosted by South Africa.
