Midfielder Andre Ayew will be the captain of Ghana in their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final match against Equatorial Guinea on Thursday night because of the injury to substantive leader Asamoah Gyan.

Usual captain Asamoah Gyan has been ruled out of the match in Malabo due to the injury he suffered on Sunday and will be replaced up-front by Lorient forward, Jordan Ayew, while his armband goes to the other Ayew brother.

Doctors were hoping to work on Gyan to make him fit for the match, but he has not been able to recover from the injury inflicted by Guinea goalkeeper, Naby Yattara, in the match played on Sunday.

The 25-year-old will take over the leadership role in the team ahead of the crucial opener against the Nzalang Nacional.

This is the second time Andre Ayew will be captaining the Black Stars after Gyan missed their group opener against Senegal because of malaria.

Andre’s leadership qualities have not been in doubt since he captained the country’s Under-20 team to win the World Youth Championship in Egypt in 2009.

He has led the team in a couple of games and will again be the star attraction as the Black Stars battle for a place in the final.