Former Ghanaian football star Samuel Osei Kuffour has expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision to strip Asamoah Gyan of the Black Stars captaincy, a move that he believes created unnecessary tension within the national team.
Speaking on Sporty FM, Osei Kuffour revealed that he had advised against removing Gyan as captain, arguing that the decision was unnecessary given the short time left before his expected retirement.
We make [Black Stars captaincy] too complicated,” Kuffour stated. “It wasn’t the right decision to take the armband from Asamoah Gyan. As part of the NC committee, I said, ‘Let Gyan remain captain since he had only a few months left.’ We didn’t need to create tension for Dede or make Gyan feel isolated.
The decision to strip Gyan of the captaincy ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and appoint André “Dede” Ayew instead sparked controversy at the time. Creating mix feelings among football lovers in Ghana.
Kuffour’s remarks have reignited discussions about the handling of leadership transitions within the Black Stars, with many questioning whether the decision disrupted team unity.