In Kwesi Appiah‘s
first spell as Black Stars coach, he was nicknamed the Silent Assassin
by the players for his ruthlessness. In this second spell as Ghana boss
he seems to have lost none of those instincts
Appiah’s latest squad for a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya suggested he has not lost the ball for big calls.
It’s also a squad that could signal the beginning of the end for
national legend Asamoah Gyan and throws the future of a famous pair, the
Ayew brothers, in further doubt, at least with Appiah in charge.
Read: ‘We know Castro is not dead’ – Andy Dosty dares Asamoah Gyan to tell the truth
Kwadwo Asamoah’s return after a four-year absence will please many
Ghanaian football fans but it is Appiah’s decision to drop long-standing
captain Gyan that has larger significance.
Appiah in his usual understated manner has suggested this is no big
deal, that this is routine, and he’s attempted to shut down any
discussion about the implication of his latest decision for the
country’s record goalscorer.
“We don’t have a new captain,” Appiah told journalists ahead of the
squad announcement. “Gyan remains the captain of the Black Stars.
“Until we announce that
we have appointed a new captain, it’s unnecessary for people to speculate that we have a new captain.”
What Appiah has not addressed is what the latest snub means for the long-term future of the Ghana captain.
Read: 2018 World Cup: Asamoah Gyan praises Croatia coach
Gyan is the last man standing from the generation that took Ghana to a
first World Cup appearance in 2006, but increasingly, it seems his time
is coming to an end.
He’s not been picked by Appiah since the final 2018 World Cup
qualifying game against Egypt last year, and has not played for the
Black Stars since starting against Congo-Brazzaville in Kumasi in 2017.
Since then, he has missed out on trips to Japan and Iceland, but it
is the decision to drop him for a competitive game that should alarm the
striker.
When he was overlooked for the two friendly games in June, part of
the idea was that it would allow Appiah to weigh up his options beyond
Gyan.
Emmanuel Boateng was one of them, but even with the Levante forward
injured, Appiah has still made the decision that he doesn’t need his
captain.
Everything about the decision points to the beginning of the end for Gyan.
Appiah is clearly gravitating towards a Black Stars with Thomas Partey as the heart and soul and Raphael Dwamena as the figurehead up front.
While Appiah’s insistence that Gyan remains captain will gladden him,
it bears striking semblance to the manner his predecessor John Mensah
was eased out of international duty.
Gyan is desperate for an international farewell at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
It seems from Appiah’s decisions that he will have to earn it with
games at club level. The recent evidence (last season, he made 12 league
appearances for Kayserispor, this season he is yet to feature) suggests
the end could be nigh for Baby Jet.
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