Sports
Ghana’s Gyan Hungry For More Glory
It is ironic that Asamoah Gyan was once again being hailed as an unlikely hero throughout Ghana after scoring the late penalty that saw off Serbia 1-0 in Group D. It was not long ago that the Rennes striker almost walked out of the Black Stars team after overwhelming public criticism.
In the run-up to the 2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana, as hosts, were feeling all of the pressure of expectation, and despite being just 22 years of age, Gyan was singled out as the weakest link in the side. After things reached fever pitch, he had his bags packed and was ready to leave the team, only to be persuaded to stay at the last minute. And though he was clearly shaken, he set aside his nerves to score the first goal of the event from the penalty spot.
But then, the Accra native has been scoring significant goals for his country from the very start, tallying on his international debut to seal victory in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Somalia, just days before his 18th birthday. In fact, he has opened the Black Stars’ account at each of the last four major tournaments, including against the Czech Republic at Germany 2006, Ghana’s long-awaited first world finals.
“If you see the past record, I was the first guy to score for Ghana in the World Cup – ever,” he told Tidesports source proudly. “And I was the first guy to score in 2008 in the opening game. And I scored [Ghana’s] first goal in the 2010 African Cup of Nations. This World Cup I was going there to just make sure I keep doing what I have been doing. I was saying to myself, ‘if you score once again you can be the happiest man’, you know. So when I was playing I was just concentrating, and I knew, I knew, I would score. I knew I would score, definitely.”
Scoring is what Gyan does best, so it is odd that before every tournament, observers wait for another rising Black Star to take his place leading the attack. But a classy Cup of Nations earlier this year – he registered three goals, including two match-winners in the knock-out rounds, to be named in the team of the tournament for the losing finalists – and a fine season in Ligue 1 has left the former Udinese player brimming with self-belief.
“I’ve scored quite a lot of goals with my club and with the national team, and I’ve regained my confidence,” said the man who now has a strike rate of one goal in every other one of his 40 internationals. “For a lone striker to be scoring all the time boosts your confidence.”
Gyan is not only growing in stature on the pitch, he has become a one of the “elder statesmen” in what is the youngest team at South Africa 2010. But he sees his role as less task master than jester. “I’m the leader,” revealed Gyan with a sly smile. “I’m the one who leads the singing. It makes people happy. I make people laugh to forget about football. Sometimes there might be pressure on you, but if you just forget it, you will gain confidence.
“We are really enjoying it because, for me, this is my second time at a World Cup and I’m the funniest guy in the team, you know. So I make people laugh, it’s fun when we are together,” he added. While saying that the relaxed attitude is what makes the team close – the players even keep tabs on each other via phone during their long European club seasons – Gyan is quick to point out that this version of the four-time African champions has a bite behind its smile. He credits the 3-0 second-round loss to Brazil at Germany 2006 with teaching the side a lesson.
“We learned a lot of things against Brazil,” he said, when comparing this team to four years ago. “I think this time we went in calm and relaxed because we had studied before, so we knew what we were going to do. I think there is a big difference in that we’ve gained a bit of experience in the World Cup.”
Gyan also dismisses the idea that pressure may now creep into the team after the surprise sprung on Serbia, a team many tipped as dark horses in the tournament. “We are better in the world now, too,” he explained again looking back over four years of growth. “In 2006 we did quite well, we went to the next stage, but this time Ghanaians are expecting more from us. That is why we are also going like wounded lions. Like a wounded lion, you know? So I’m hoping we just qualify for the next stage and then we see what happens from there.”
Akpata emerged unopposed during the federation’s annual general meeting and board elections, which ended in Abuja on Saturday.
The election was decided by 37 delegates, with 12 other board members also emerging, to steer the affairs of the federation for the next four years.
Former Kwara State stalwart, Wale Obalola, emerged as the vice president at the election.
Representative of the South-West on the NCF board, Tayo Atoloye, also returned for another term, while team manager of the Junior Female Yellow Greens, Femi John, was elected as the representative of the South-South on the board.
Other zonal representatives are Chika Okoro (South-East), Ladan Usman (North-West), Dare Aimola (North-Central), and Zainab Adamu (North-East).
Former captain of the men’s national team, Endurance Ofem, secured 30 of the 37 votes to beat another ex-player, Chimezie Onwuzulike, for the players’ representative seat.
Olumide Akinkokun emerged as the technical representative, Prof Mariam Suleiman will represent the National Association of Women in Sports, Chuma Anosike as the sponsors’ representative, while the military and paramilitary will be represented on the board by Major Monica Wabulla.
The president, Akpata, was first elected in 2021 and has driven the growth of Nigerian cricket in the last four years.
Part of his notable achievements include the heavy investment in infrastructure and high-performance, national grassroots development programmes, as well as the introduction of professional contracts for Nigerian players.
Earlier this year, the women’s U-19 team finished sixth at the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, after the senior team had won a historic bronze medal at the last edition of the African Games in Ghana in 2024.
Nigeria has also bagged several International Cricket Council awards in recognition of the country’s strides towards growing the game, especially for women.
The 22-year-old ran a scorching 47.11 seconds in Friday’s final, smashing his previous national record of 47.31 seconds set earlier this year and becoming only the second Nigerian since Henry Amike in 1987 to reach the 400m hurdles final at the World Championships.
“I hope this performance will inspire young Nigerian athletes,” Nathaniel said after the dramatic final
“This is a great opportunity to learn from the world’s best athletes.”
The race saw American Rai Benjamin storm to victory in 46.52 seconds to finally clinch his first world championship gold medal after two silvers and a bronze, but not without drama.
Benjamin was initially disqualified for crashing into the final hurdle and affecting other athletes, briefly elevating Nathaniel to bronze position. However, the American’s appeal was quickly upheld and he was restored to the top of the timesheet.
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos claimed silver in 46.84 seconds, while Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba took bronze in 47.06 seconds, leaving Nathaniel agonisingly close to Nigeria’s second medal of the championships.
Despite the near-miss, Nathaniel remained philosophical about the disqualification reversal.
It’s a fair call,” the Nigerian said.
“He put in a lot of work to get that medal and if they are trying to rip off from that, I don’t think that’s fair. He didn’t deliberately knock over the hurdle, that could happen to anyone.”
The former 800m runner, who competes for Baylor University in Texas, expressed satisfaction with his performance and hinted at greater things to come saying, “I still have a lot of potential. I am pleased because I did my best and I ran a personal record. I have it in me and just need to wait for the right time. For now, I am enjoying the process.”
Nathaniel’s rapid rise in the event has been remarkable. Born in 2003, he broke a decades-old Nigerian record set by Henry Amike when he ran 48.42 seconds at the Big 12 Conference meet in 2022 as a freshman.
His progress accelerated dramatically this year. In June, he won the NCAA Outdoor Championships title in Eugene, Oregon, clocking 47.49 seconds – the third fastest time in NCAA history. He also became the first man in NCAA history to run a sub-48-second time in the 400m hurdles semifinal, recording 47.86 seconds.
The Tokyo performance adds another chapter to what has been an exceptional year for the young hurdler, who has now established himself among the world’s elite quarter-mile hurdlers.
While Nathaniel’s fourth-place finish matches Amike’s result from the 1987 World Championships in Rome, his national record performance signals a bright future for Nigerian athletics in the event.
Nigeria’s campaign in Tokyo concluded with Tobi Amusan as the country’s only medallist, though this still represented an improvement over the Budapest World Championships where Team Nigeria ended empty-handed.
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