Despite not playing competitive football for the past two years, Ghanaian football legend Asamoah Gyan intends to make a shock return for the Black Stars ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Gyan, who is now 36, last played for Accra-based side Legon Cities in the Ghana Premier League. The last time he played for the Black Stars was during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where they finished in the round of 16 in Egypt.
The former Ghana captain has told BBC Sport that he is embarking on a fitness programme with the hope of appearing at what would be his fourth World Cup finals.
“The World Cup is every footballer’s dream. I think I’ve got a bit of energy left in me to prove myself once again,” said Gyan who turns 37 two days before Ghana’s Group H opener against Portugal on 24 November.
“I haven’t announced my retirement. Anything can happen, you know. It’s happened before, talking about Cameroon in 1994, with Roger Milla coming back from retirement to play in a World Cup,” he added.
“Talent wise, everything is there already, so I just have to prepare physically. I’ve been out for almost two years now due to injuries but I just need to get my body back in shape. It’s an eight-week programme and according to my physical instructor, I’m improving faster than he thought.
But the former Udinese, Rennes and Sunderland forward say he has not held any conversations with Ghana coach Otto Addo or technical director Chris Hughton.
“Honestly I haven’t spoken to anybody at all. It’s part of the plan. I just want to make sure I see how my body reacts first. I just need to get to some level and then I can say I’m ready. Everything looks positive, so we’ll see what happens. There might be a surprise.”
Gyan has scored 51 goals for Ghana in 107 matches, and six of those have come at the World Cup, where he featured in 2006, 2010 and 2014.
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