Gyan: I'll get back amongst the goals at Cup of Nations

8 Jan 2013 19:20:00

The Ghana captain wants to improve his poor goalscoring record at the tournament as he looks to lead the Black Stars to their fifth title, though he will no longer take penalties

Asamoah Gyan has vowed to turn around his modest goalscoring record in the Africa Cup of Nations when Ghana bid to add to the four continental titles they already have, in South Africa.

The Al-Ain striker has scored just five goals in his three previous tournaments for the Black Stars despite the team reaching at least the semi-finals on each occasion, but the former Sunderland forward is not worried by the pressure on him to provide goals.

"I’m not disturbed because my ratio of goals with the national team is impressive. It is natural people expect you to score as striker, but it is not always so," he told Fifa.com.

"Sometimes you have to create the chances for others to also score. I always do my best to help the team to victory."

Despite looking to add to his 28 international strikes, the country's captain has revealed he will not be taking penalties after his miss in the World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay cost his team a chance of a place in the last four.

He said: "I will no longer take penalty kicks for Ghana. My mother advised against penalties, and since she is no more, I have to heed her advice."

Ghana last won the competition in 1982 and lost out in the final to Egypt in 2010, but 27-year-old Gyan believes his side can break through and finally lift the trophy for a fifth time, starting with their group matches against Mali, Congo DR and Niger.

He added: "I’m very hopeful we can break the jinx and end the long wait for the African title. No team can be underrated at this level. All four sides in the group are strong contenders.

"We played Mali at the 2012 edition and saw their performance. Niger, though not a big team, have a strong side and can always cause an upset."

Gyan will be without fellow striker Andre Ayew, as the Marseille man was dropped from the Black Stars after he failed to turn up to the squad on Monday.

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets

Inside Goal.Com

Inside Celtic: End of season review
With just the Scottish Cup final left before the summer break, Inside Celtic looks back on a memorable season for Neil Lennon's men
BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders
BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way
Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants six new signings
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements
Soulless EPL must face up to grim reality
After a season marred by controversy and a failure of its top teams to put up a credible Champions League challenge, the world's supposed best league is falling behind
Bayern's jinx - CL final referee Nicola Rizzoli
Goal takes a look at the career of the Italian arbiter to date following Uefa's decision to appoint the 41-year-old for Saturday's showpiece at Wembley