'Experienced Leader': Dede Ayew joins Asamoah Gyan praise party

Andre Ayew has added his voice to the long list of praise singers of Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan following the Al Ain striker's injury time goal that condemned Algeria to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Ghana last Friday at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Having lost the opening game in Group C to fellow West Africans, Senegal with virtually the last kick of the game back on January 19, the Black Stars did to the North Africans what the Teranga Lions did to Ghana courtesy Gyan's fantastic strike right at the death.

The victory chalked Ghana's first three points of the tournament and revived the national team's quarter final qualification hopes amid the disappointment of the opening game defeat and also hand new coach, Avram Grant his first competitive win.

And one of the men hailing the captain's versatility and ability to make use of a chance that was at a very tight angle is his deputy in the national team, Ayew who acknowledges the ball may not have gone in for the Black Stars had it not been Gyan who got into that position.

"It was a fantastic goal from a tight angle with a lot of quality which all happened because of the huge experience of Asamoah Gyan," Dede told Allsports.com.gh exclusively in the wake of last Friday's victory.

"I think when there is  a player with that experience it's massive. The same opportunity maybe a younger player can have it and play it away or maybe if Gyan had it ten yeas ago when he was 20 he may have missed it," Ayew continued.

"But today he has the experience, he has the leadership quality to put in balls which are with a lot of pressure. Because it is the last ball, he knew it was the last ball, he knew he had to put it in and he did," the Olympique Marseille midfielder acknowledged.

He concluded: "So we are happy, we are all going to rest, try to get back to full fitness. Whether he, me, John Boye, everybody, we will try and prepare and fight on Tuesday (against South Africa)." Follow @thedonplato