Saturday Feb 04, 2023. 18:34
Ghana icon Asamoah Gyan has hailed the uniqueness of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as an important means of showcasing Africa’s local talent.
The former Black Stars striker, who is their all-time leading scorer with 51 goals, has welcomed the opportunity for local players to get a taste of international football.
Gyan believes the game is headed in the right direction in Africa and paid tribute to Algeria for the construction of the Nelson Mandela Stadium, which will benefit the clubs based in the Baraki suburb of Algiers.
The 37-year-old admitted he would have loved the chance to play in the biennial tournament and says talent on the continent must be nurtured.
“This is a huge opportunity for players playing on the continent. The CHAN is a unique competition. It cannot be compared to other competitions,” he said in an exclusive interview with CAFOnline.
“Unfortunately, when the Confederation of African Football launched CHAN in 2009, I was no longer eligible for this competition. Look at most of the players who have inscribed their names in world football folklore: George Weah, Sadio Mane, Samuel Eto’o and myself.
“We were trained on the continent. It is proof that Africa has incredible talent and this talent must be showcased.
“We are on the right track. Admittedly, there is still a lot of work to be done. When I go to Baraki and see the Nelson Mandela Stadium, I am proud, proud of Algeria and above all proud to be African. All countries should take this example.
“The development of our football begins with the construction of good infrastructure. Nice high-end stadiums. To return to the Nelson Mandela Stadium, after this CHAN, it will serve the clubs of the city.”
