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Asamoah Gyan eyes history

By Editor
25 January 2017   |   2:07 am
Skipper of Ghana Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan will hope to feature in today’s last group match against the Pharaohs of Egypt. The striker netted the only goal in Saturday’s victory against Mali....
Asamoah Gyan

Asamoah Gyan

Skipper of Ghana Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan will hope to feature in today’s last group match against the Pharaohs of Egypt. The striker netted the only goal in Saturday’s victory against Mali and he has now scored eight times at the Cup of Nations over six consecutive tournaments.

The 31-year-old is also closing on a significant landmark as his next goal will be his 50th in international football.“In tournaments you don’t look for personal glory,” he said at a press conference on Monday when asked about the significance of reaching his half-century.

“Maybe after if I get on the scoresheet then I can celebrate personal glory, but as a striker people expect you to score and I am here to win the trophy.”

That is something he has not yet managed to do with the Black Stars winning the last of their four Cups of Nations back in 1982.They have looked like one of the most accomplished sides so far in this year’s tournament, despite losing left-back Abdul Rahman Baba to a serious knee injury in their opening 1-0 win against Uganda.

In Oyem, Mali must beat Uganda and hope Egypt lose if they are to stay in the tournament, but to do that Alain Giresse’s side need to improve in front of goal having thus far failed to score.

Eliminated from the last Cup of Nations in 2015 in bizarre fashion after a drawing of lots with Guinea in a hotel meeting room in Equatorial Guinea’s capital Malabo, another such scenario is possible.
Mali and Egypt drew 0-0 with each other in their first game and so if they end up locked on the same points and same goal difference, such a last resort will be required to separate them.

Uganda, meanwhile, are already eliminated so will hope to bow out of their first Cup of Nations in 39 years by registering a first goal and a first win.

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