Soccer News of Monday, 30 January 2012

Source: GNA

Annan reaches half-century cap milestone

Bata, Jan. 30, GNA – Ghana midfielder Anthony Annan has joined the list of players to have reached the 50th cap milestone for the Black Stars.

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that Annan, 25, attained the landmark during the Black Stars opener against Botswana at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations played on January 24 in Franceville, Gabon.

As if by chance, the petit midfielder capped the moment with a fine performance against the Zebras, but for the back-pass which resulted in the sending-off of captain John Mensah.

Interestingly, the player and the Ghana Football Association appear unaware of the achievement, hence there is no-talk about it.

It will be recalled that captain John Mensah and John Paintsil were each presented with shields upon attainment of the half-century cap status.

For Mensah, his 50th game was against Morocco at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Ghana, whilst Paintsil will follow a year later in the joint 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin in Kumasi.

The feat is a remarkable achievement for Annan who made his Black Stars debut against Brazil on March 27, 2007 at the Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden.

Sulley Ali Muntari and Asamoah Gyan are the other players in the current set up to have surpassed the half-century mark.

[Kofi Addae, GNA Special Correspondent in Bata, Equatorial Guinea]