The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is set to outdoor Al Ain Striker, Asamoah Gyan as the substantive captain of the Black Stars.

A supreme source at GFA told GNA Sports the Association reached the decision after Gyan captained the Stars for the second time when Ghana toppled the Flames of Malawi to book a place at next year's Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The source said barring any unforeseen hitches, Gyan who returned to the national team few weeks ago after calling off his self-imposed exile would be taking over completely from inactive skipper, John Mensah.

Club-less Mensah, who took over from Stephen Appiah before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, according to the source has been made the General Captain of the team hoping to end Ghana’s search for a fifth Africa Cup of Nations glory.

Contrary to the GFA’s earlier assertion that the choice of captain will be hierarchical, the latest decision means Gyan has overtaken Michael Essien, John Painstil and Sulley Muntari who per their supposed order are ahead.

Though the source refused to delve into what influenced the decision, he remained tight-lipped on whether rumours that Gyan demanded being named captain during the GFA's mission to lure him back into the national team contributed.

Gyan made his debut for the Black Stars in 2003, then 17, when scoring against Somalia after replacing Isaac Boakye in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium.

He has had a love-hate relationship with Ghana following criticism over his performance in crucial games. Twice in less than two years, Gyan missed from the spot in decisive games which Ghana eventually lost.

The first was at the 2010 World Cup where he missed a late penalty in the semi final meeting against Uruguay before the 2012 Africa cup of Nations semi final game with Zambia in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea earlier in the year.

Gyan decided to take an indefinite break from International football after the competition in the midst of the criticism only to return months later , after several meetings with the GFA where it is believed he demanded for the captaincy as part of the conditions for his return.