Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan

By Ameenu Shardow

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan wants to succeed where his predecessors; Stephen Appiah and John Mensah failed by winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars aim at ending a 31-year wait for an African title by the time the tournament kicks off early next year in South Africa.

Previous Black Stars captains; Mensah and Appiah despite presiding over the side’s relative success in recent years were unable to win the African Cup which has proved elusive over three decades.

Gyan, 27, who will be wearing the armband in South Africa however hopes to be the lift that coveted trophy after the grand finale on February 10.

The Al Ain striker however stresses the need to have all players of the side performing on top of their game in order to make this dream a reality.

“Stephen Appiah was a great guy, inside the field and outside the field, respect to him” he told GHANAsoccernet.com.

“John Mensah also the same thing and now it is my turn, I have learnt a lot from them.

“I think the GFA and the players have given me the support. So it will depend on us.

“As a captain I will make sure I help my team with my advice and the rest will be left to the team to deliver.

“Hopefully we will be ending the long wait for an African title next year in South Africa.”

Ghana must however first manage a tricky group which has Mali, Niger and DR Congo as members.

The Black Stars open their campaign against DR Congo a day after the competition officially starts at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on January 20.

Watch the video interview with Asamoah Gyan below: