Gyan hopes for good outing, as Ghana sticks to squad

TO make up for his poor run with Ghana's Black Stars, striker Asamoah Gyan, is hoping to make up for a disappointing 2008 Africa Cup of Nations when he leads the Black Stars attack in Angola next month.

Gyan had a poor tournament two years and ago and was much criticised for his efforts by fans, as powerful forward Junior Agogo rose to prominence at the tournament.

But Gyan's form for French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes has been excellent this season, and he hopes he can take those goals into the Nations Cup in Angola. "My form this season has been great and I hope it continues at the Nations Cup where the level is big for me. I have the confidence and I believe it's possible," Gyan says. "But I must admit that playing in Africa is quite different from Europe and I need to keep my focus and not to be over-confident. "This tournament will be great and in a World Cup year, everybody will like to play well so you can't do nothing but your best."

Ghana have been drawn in a difficult Group B along with pre-tournament favourites Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Togo, and they will open their campaign against the latter on January 11.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association has debunked allegations making rounds that three players are about to be added to the 23-man squad already announced for Angola 2010.

A sister radio station reported that coach Milovan Rajevac would give a late call up to Inter's Sulley Muntari, Egypt league's leading scorer, Eric Bekoe, and Derek Boateng of Getafe.

"The coach has not told us that he is about to make any changes to the squad so we are sticking to our list.

"The coach has named his squad, he has not made any changes, so Ghanaians are backing the team for victory in Angola," Ghana FA spokesman Randy Abbey told Ghanasoccernet.com.

Ghana are to camp in South Africa from December 27 ahead of the African Nations Cup to prepare for an all-West African Group B, also comprising Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo.