Ghana forward Emmanuel Gyasi says Ghana’s all-time leading top scorer Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah were his idols growing up as a young football in Italy.
The 27-year-old, who plays for Italian Serie A side Spezia Calcio, made his international debut on 25 March as the Blacks Stars drew 1-1 with South Africa in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
He now has his sights firmly set on being part of the squad at the Nations Cup finals in Cameroon next year and helping his country end a 30-years wait for success.
“My childhood dream has always been wearing the Ghana National team shirt,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“I wanted to become a football player and play for Ghana: I never had a doubt about it.
“In the past I had two idols in our national team: Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan. They were great, I used to love them and watch all of their games.”
Gyasi was born in the Italian city of Palermo in 1994 but was then raised in Ghana by his grandparents until he was 11, when he returned to Italy.
