Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi has described striker Asamoah Gyan as the Lionel Messi of the Black Stars, stating that without the talismanic striker the senior national team struggle to impress.

The Al Ain goal poacher struck a vital match-winner in stoppage time of the AFCON 2015 Group C clash against Algeria last Friday to keep Ghana in the continental championship ahead of next Tuesday’s encounter with South Africa.

“In every team, that’s how things are. If you take Messi out of Barcelona, the team will struggle. Every team has what you call a talisman, so it’s not surprising that we also have Asamoah Gyan who is the star of the team,” Nyantakyi told Accra-based Montie FM.

The 29-year-old’s goal helped him equal Osei Kofi’s all-time record of seven tournament goals. The ex-Udinese and Sunderland attacker has now scored 46 goals in 87 appearances for Ghana.