Former Black Stars striker Asamoah Gyan has revealed that he always mentally prepared himself to score whenever he represented Ghana.
Gyan, who made his senior national team debut in November 2003, went on to become Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, netting 51 goals in 109 appearances.
The forward featured in three FIFA World Cups – Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Brazil 2014 – before announcing his retirement from football in June 2023.
Reflecting on his international career, the 40-year-old explained that he put immense pressure on himself to deliver for the supporters.
“When I used to play for Ghana, people expected you to score because that is what the fans want. I created that pressure for myself to be consistent in scoring, so anytime Ghana played, they knew I would score,” he said.
Gyan added, “Anytime I don’t score, I feel like there’s a problem. Before every game, I pray and ask God to help me give the fans what they want. When I don’t score, I feel like the worst player, but when I score, I feel like the best.”
He also holds the record as Africa’s highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, with six goals.
