Asamoah Gyan believes coach Kwesi Appiah stabbed him the back ahead of Ghana’s disastrous campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The Kayserispor forward was the centre of the Black Stars captaincy row that led to his schock retirement before the intervention of President Nana Addo convinced him to rescind his decision.

Ghana’s all-time scorer was however reduced to a bench role for most part of his involvement in the tournament.

“I felt betrayed and felt disappointed. I don’t have an problem with him (coach).I won’t lie to you, I felt extremely hurt,” he told Asempa FM

“I am only human. Nobody can tell me he will be happy over such a decision. If you put yourself in my shoes, you will understand.

“I felt hurt as a human being. I am not the first person to be stripped of the armband. But mostly it happens when one has been embroiled in a scandal. Take the John Terry example.

“Honestly I was hurt. I felt pain in my heart. I will say the coach did not do well. He took his decision but how he went about it was wrong, to be honest.

“I was talked to by the president of Ghana and other senior statesmen to see the larger picture and life. And I took everything in my stride.

“I have no problem with the coach. We are very cool and we look forward to the future.”

The 33-year old has scored 51 goals in 106 appearances for the national team since making his debut in 2003.

He played in eight Africa Cup of Nations and three World Cups for the Black Stars.