Former Black Stars midfielder Laryea Kingston has disclosed that Asamoah Gyan continues to grapple with the emotional toll of losing the captaincy to Dede Ayew.

According to Kingston, Gyan has not fully recovered from the hurt of being replaced as captain, a position he believes was taken from him against his will.

He emphasised that Gyan's lingering anguish becomes evident whenever he discusses the circumstances surrounding the loss of the armband.

"Look at someone like Asamoah Gyan; Dede Ayew got the captaincy by force so if you are speaking to Asamoah now, he is not happy," he told Graphic Sports.

Before the 2019 AFCON tournament, former Black Stars head coach Kwesi Appiah appointed Asamoah Gyan as the general captain while officially designating Andre Dede Ayew as the team's captain.

Defending his decision, which faced criticism, especially after Ghana's early elimination from the tournament, Kwesi Appiah asserted that he believed he made the correct choice.

"It is about doing the right thing. I couldn't have stripped Gyan of the captaincy and given it to Christian Atsu (or any junior player). Whoever deserves to take over, you give it to him," he told Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV on YouTube.

Laryea Kingston, too, experienced disappointment when he was omitted from Ghana's squads for the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments, ultimately retiring from international football without ever participating in the prestigious event.

Reflecting on his past, he admitted that he harboured resentment towards the team for some time but has since found a way to move on.

"Myself, what they did to me for so many years, I never supported the Black Stars but just recently I sat down and said, It's over; let me focus, he said.

Laryea Kingston's name has emerged as one of the recommended candidates for the vacant Black Stars coaching position. Many observers see the former Hearts of Oak player as being on a promising trajectory in his coaching career and believe he has the potential to excel in the role.