ACCRA - Ghana's Asamoah Gyan almost walked out on the team after he and his family received threats following the young Udinese striker's shaky performance in last Thursday's 1-0 win over Namibia.

ACCRA - Ghana's Asamoah Gyan almost walked out on the team after he and his family received threats following the young Udinese striker's shaky performance in last Thursday's 1-0 win over Namibia.

Coach Claude Le Roy told AFP yesterday the player and his older brother Baffour had decided to quit the squad, but were persuaded to stay after lengthy talks with him and officials from the national federation.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Le Roy.

Gyan was subjected to tauunts by the crowd at Accra's Ohene Djan stadium after an unconvincing display and a number of poor finishings in Ghana's second Group A match.

Clearly shaken by the crowd turning on him, he was eventually taken off by Le Roy in the 65th minute, his display described as "lethargic and a bundle of nerves" by one local commentator.

After a torrent of abuse from local media and telephone threats he and Baffour, who plays for Saturn in Russia, packed their bags and were set to walk out on Saturday morning.

"They were ready to leave, but I had a long chat with him yesterday morning and everything's okay now, he trained normally in the afternoon and he's still with us," Le Roy reported.

The veteran French coach said he was shocked by the treatment meted out to his star player who scored a penalty in Ghana's 2-1 opening win over Guinea.

"It was more than just unfair criticism. He was threatened, his mother was threatened, his father was threatened. " - Sapa-AFP