Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, says he is optimistic that the current crop of players in the senior national football team, can go all the way and win the upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations even if he is not selected for the tournament.

Gyan, who has been the leading striker of the national team for the best part of the last decade says he is well aware that his time in the national team is drawing ever closer and very soon he would have to make way for younger players in the team.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Gyan who is the top scorer in the history of the Black Stars said, “The team can obviously win the 2019 Africa Cup without me. I have been doing my best for the national teams for at least fifteen years now and at some point, we need to give the young ones a chance. I think sometimes experienced players like myself may not necessarily start or play in every game but everything will depend on the coach. If the coach decides that in a particular game, he wants an experienced player then that is fine and if he decides that in this game he wants to use a younger player then that is also fine. I don’t have a problem at all. ”

Gyan’s modest admission is indicative of the fact that he now realises that he may not lead the lines for Ghana If he is lucky to make the 23-man squad for the tournament. Despite his struggles at club level, Gyan is a proven goal-scorer and with no stand-out striker in his absence, he may well be sent to the 2019 AFCON because of his proven track record.

Gyan’s desire to go to this AFCON is understandable. He realises that this will be his last chance to win an AFCON trophy after missing out on the title in 2010 and 2015 when Ghana finished as losing finalists.

Only last week, Jordan Ayew described Asamoah Gyan as irreplaceable in the Black Stars, underscoring the importance of the former Sunderland striker if Ghana is to win the 2019 AFCON.