Asamoah Gyan has attributed Ghana’s football success over Kenya to stronger grassroots development, insisting that the East African nation has the talent but lacks the fundamentals needed to consistently produce top players.
The former Black Stars captain made the remarks during a visit to Kenya, where he attended a grassroots football initiative organised by former Kenya women’s national team captain Irene Ndano.
Gyan explained that his presence was driven by his passion for youth football and his belief that strong foundations are essential for developing professional footballers.
“I honestly love grassroots football. I support it so much because this is where young players build a strong foundation. When you have the basics, it becomes easier to reach the professional level,” he said.
The Ghanaian legend praised the project, describing it as an important platform for nurturing young talent and equipping aspiring footballers with the right skills from an early age.
Assessing Kenyan football, Gyan said the country possesses abundant talent but has not invested enough in grassroots structures compared to Ghana.
“Kenyan football is doing alright, but statistically I always compare them to Ghana. Ghana is ahead of Kenya when it comes to football, and I think they lack the basics,” Gyan stated.
He also suggested that Kenya’s sporting culture has traditionally prioritised athletics over football, limiting the growth of the game despite the country’s potential.
“There are a lot of talented players here, but it looks like Kenya focuses more on athletics than football. When players don’t get the support they need, many of them give up,” he added.