A certain Sunderland cult hero nearly quit his country’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign after brutal fan criticism, then went completely broke despite earnings millions during his career
Tom Sunderland Sports Writer
08:00, 18 Jan 2026
Asamoah Gyan is a national treasure in Ghana, but he once nearly quit on his country in a move that could have changed the trajectory of his life altogether(Image: Chris Brunskill, Getty Images)
Asamoah Gyan was tantalisingly close to securing the continent’s most prestigious accolade on two occasions. However, he nearly abandoned one attempt at the Africa Cup of Nations title due to harsh criticism from supporters.
Morocco are set to challenge Senegal on home turf this Sunday, aiming to clinch the trophy for the first time in half a century. Ghana found itself in a similar position when it hosted the 2008 edition of the tournament, hoping to end its own lengthy wait for the cup.
During that period, Gyan was just beginning to make his mark on the European football scene following a standout season with Serie A club Udinese. He later became synonymous with Ghana’s impressive 2010 World Cup campaign, which ended in disappointment after his missed penalty led to their notorious elimination against Luis Suarez’s Uruguay.
Gyan, whose net worth is now estimated to be around £17million after once facing financial ruin, managed to rebuild his reputation by leading becoming a fan favourite at Sunderland during his short stint in the Premier League. This stands in stark contrast to the hostility he and his family endured following a series of lacklustre performances at the 2008 AFCON.
Hosting any major competition brings heightened expectations, and Gyan experienced this pressure first-hand when his own fans turned against him following a series of wayward performances on home turf. The criticism became so overwhelming that he considered walking away from the national team during the group stages, before Ghana’s then-president John Kuffour allegedly persuaded him to stay put.
“At that time I didn’t feel any criticism, starting from the colts level it was like I was being pampered until that time,” he told Pulse Ghana in 2020. “I didn’t know anything about criticism until that time.
Gyan was only a youngster when he felt the fury of Ghana’s fanbase(Image: ABDELHAK SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)
“I felt like the criticism was unfair to me because they criticised me – and I think it was personal – in a game that we won, which Ghanaians were expecting [to be] like 10-0. People didn’t understand what was going on at that time, so I thought I was treated unfairly.
“My mother called me, and she was crying. I felt it wasn’t the right time to do that in the middle of the tournament, and I felt that the whole nation was against me and at that tender age – I was like 20 years [old] – so I felt that the whole nation was against me.”
The circumstances became so severe that Gyan’s relatives required police protection after receiving death threats from irate supporters. The striker endured hostile receptions and catcalls from Black Stars fans after squandering numerous chances against Namibia and Guinea.
The 40-year-old has made himself a millionaire all over again(Image: Instagram/asamoah_gyan3)
Gyan’s mother, Cecilia Love Amoaka, even made her own appeal to his detractors and said at the time: “Ghanaians are ungrateful. My son is only young but has done something good for the nation, so he should not be treated this way.”
Ghana secured victories in all three of their group matches and finished top of their section before mounting a comeback to defeat Nigeria in the quarter-finals. They were eliminated following a 1-0 semi-final defeat to Senegal, though, meaning their quest for a maiden AFCON crown since 1982 continued.
Following his departure from Sunderland in 2011, he pursued profitable transfers to Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates and Shanghai SIPG (now Shanghai Port) in China. Reports suggested he commanded wages of up to £6m per season with the UAE outfit, where he spent three years.
Gyan is back enjoying the good life in hometown Accra after previously coming close to bankruptcy(Image: ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Nevertheless, he revealed in 2018 that he had just £600 in his bank account after allegedly squandering his entire fortune. Gyan had acquired a gold Rolls Royce and other extravagant purchases during his prime and was embroiled in what was reportedly an acrimonious annulment from his former spouse.
He ultimately rebuilt his wealth after diversifying his portfolio as a boxing promoter, philanthropist and food and beverage entrepreneur. His ventures even encompassed an airline called Baby Jet Airlines, named after his own moniker, although the firm folded in 2018 without completing a single journey.
His business portfolio also boasts a fleet of petrol stations in his hometown of Accra. He operates a bus company in the capital, with a fleet exceeding 30 buses, an entertainment venture and Gyan-branded commodities such as water, rice and noodles.
Gyan was instrumental in propelling Ghana to the AFCON final twice, although they had to settle for second place in both 2010 and 2015. He hung up his boots in 2023 and holds the record as Ghana’s highest goal scorer, having netted 51 goals in 109 international appearances.
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