Ghana's star Asamoah Gyan not to play opening Afcon match
Xinhua, January 19, 2015 Adjust font size:
Ghana head coach Avrant Grant has said his skipper Asamoah Gyan will not be rushed to play the first match against Senegal on Monday in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Gyan who is Africa's leading scorer at the World Cup, sustained a knock together with two other players during the team's training camp in Spain.
"The players are all looking good, but we shall take careful tests to make sure we do not rush Gyan," said Grant who will be making his debut as coach of the Black Stars in a big competition.
The former coach of English Premier League side Chelsea only signed for Ghana last month.
Ghana who have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times will start their campaign against favorites Senegal on Monday at the Estadio de Mongomo Stadium.
Grant said that although he is aware they are in a tough group that has Senegal, South Africa and Algeria, they will have to work hard to make it through.
The Black Stars of Ghana who have won the Afcon title in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982 will be looking forward to breaking the jinx.
Egypt who failed to qualify for this year's edition have won a record seven Afcon titles, while Ghana and Cameroon have each won four. Cote d'Ivoire, Zambia and South Africa, Tunisia, Congo Brazzaville and Algeria have won the coveted trophy once. Endi