GhanaFA

Essien urges support for Gyan

16 years ago
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Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien has pleaded with a section of the booing home fans to lay-off his Black Stars teammate, Asamoah Gyan.

Gyan has been a recent target of abuse from a section of the fans at the on-going African Cup of Nations after enduring a difficult start to the tournament in Ghana’s first two matches in Group A.

Essien fears Asamoah Gyan has been made a scapegoat for Ghana's fair performances in the first two games of the tournament and is urging fans to rather rally behind Gyan and the team to enable them win something for the country.

Essien said: “To be honest, I think it’s really unfair for the fans to go against Asamoah, who is one of our best players in the team.

“I don’t think it’s good to insult him because he’s a young lad coming up and he’s been doing really well for the team. I would plead with the fans; they should not insult us because we’ve got families as well.

“All we are doing is to do our best for the country so they should forget about the past and stay behind us, keep praying and supporting us and hopefully we can actually win something for the nation.”

However, Essien has no doubt Gyan will rise above the situation as Ghana enters the last eight stage of the competition.

“I think he is been doing really well. It happens. He’s been missing chances but that’s not the end. He’s a great player and they have to be behind us. And today (against Morocco), he showed a great potential of trying to do something.”

Michael Essien, who scored his debut goal at the tournament against Morocco in Ghana’s 2-0 win says Monday evening’s performance is his best so far in the tournament.

“This is one of my best performances during this competition and I think all I am doing is to do my best for the team and help my country to win something,” Essien says.