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RETIRED: Asamoah Gyan

GHANA HAVE been dealt a blow with the news that star strike Asamoah Gyan has retired from international football.

Gyan, who was pivotal to his country's 2010 World Cup effort in South Africa, said in a statement: 'Firstly it's important that I express my sincere apologies to my country. I never intended to make a decision like this early on in my career,
psychologically I am down.

'As you can imagine It's been very hard for me mentally to miss two important successive penalties for my country and
because of this a break to recoup my thoughts and emotions will aid me to come back bigger and mentally stronger.

"I never fully recovered from 2010 World Cup and now 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. I want my country to know I love playing for them and I wouldn't be who I am without them. So they should give me some time to get myself back together.

'I would like to ask for prayers and support from Ghanaians to help me to come back with a renewed strength to continue serving my country.'