Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has admitted he was second best in Friday's 2-1 win over Zambia in final Group D World Cup qualifier.
The Al Ain ace was an injury doubt three days to the match after he limped out of training due to thigh pains.
He had to past a late fitness test to lead the Black Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium to qualify to the final round.
Gyan was a shadow of his former self which had seen him score in the last two matches against Sudan and Lesotho.
He explained his below par performance by saying: ''I didn't train for 15 days before playing for my club in the Super Cup.
"I think that I had one training session with my team before the Super Cup so my fitness level wasn't that good.
"I came to Accra and I sat down for about three days and I trained just once so I came here to sacrifice for the team.
"As a captain that is what I have to do-I have to sacrifice for the team. You know the Zambians were following me around and we had space to score today."
Watch Asamoah Gyan's post-match interview after Ghana beat Zambia 2-1 in Kumasi on Sunday: