Asamoah Gyan celebrates his goal with teammate John Paintsil

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan says his priority is the Black Stars winning their matches at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations rather than him scoring personal goals.

The Black Stars captain scored his first goal at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in the 3-0 thrashing of Niger on Monday.

Gyan who has been scoring at will in the UAE top flight for Al Ain had to wait to until the final Group B game to open his Nations Cup account.

The 27-year-old had been heavily criticized back home in Ghana for his inability to get on the scoresheet prior to the Niger game despite his improved work rate and vital assists.

And the ex Sunderland hitman after answering to his critics with a well-taken goal and providing two assists in the impressive win says his only ambition is to help the team win.

“As I said earlier I like to play for the team. As a striker definitely people will be expecting you to score,” Gyan said at the post-match press conference.

“But my ambition is to help my team to win. Anytime I can’t score I try to open chances for my colleagues to score.

“I said to myself the right time will come and I think today was the right time.

“Looking at the game I created the second goal and then even the third goal.”

Gyan picked up the official Fair Play award aside helping the Black Stars book a quarter final place.

Ghana will now play Cape Verde on Saturday for a place in the final four of the competition being staged in South Africa.

Source: MTNFootball.com