( CNN ) -- Striker Asamoah Gyan has told CNN the pressure will be on Ghana to win the African Cup of Nations ( CAN ) when the tournament gets underway in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in January . The Black Stars are four-time winners of the continent 's biennial football tournament , but have not lifted the trophy since emerging victorious in Libya 29 years ago . With traditional African football giants such as seven-time CAN winners Egypt and Cameroon , champions on four occasions , failing to qualify for next year 's competition , Gyan admits the pressure will be on Ghana to perform . `` A team like Ghana , people are wondering why we do n't win the African Cup of Nations and it 's a big worry to our fans , '' the 25-year-old said . 2012 African Cup of Nations draw . `` You can see that there are many giants who are out of the competition . You 're talking about Cameroon , you 're talking about Nigeria ( double CAN winners ) , Egypt as well . So now the pressure is going to be on us , because we did so well in the World Cup . '' Last year 's FIFA World Cup in South Africa saw Ghana reach the quarterfinals in only their second appearance in football 's premier competition , eventually losing on penalties to Oscar Tabarez 's Uruguay . Gyan , who is currently on a season-long loan at United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) team Al-Ain from English Premier League outfit Sunderland , warned against coach Goran Stevanovic 's team becoming complacent during the tournament . `` The other countries , we have to know that they are coming to win , '' he said . `` That 's what we have to watch out for , we ca n't be swollen headed . `` We have to stick to our game plan . I think we have quality players who are capable of winning the CAN as well , so we have to see what is going to happen . '' Toure : Man City can be like Barcelona . Gyan surprised many when he chose to leave England to join Al-Ain in September , but the forward , who has also played for French club Rennes , explained how he hopes his transfer will boost the club 's profile in Africa . `` People move there at the end of their careers , '' he said . `` Why do they move there ? People might say because of money , because they want to finish their career there . `` I moved there while I 'm on top of my game . That means I 'm going to play good football and I want to bring exposure there ... As an African , people look up to me . `` There are a lot of people watching on the television . It 's the big games like Manchester United playing Chelsea , but now even if United is playing , people do n't watch it , they watch Sunderland . `` So do you see the difference ? When I moved to Sunderland , I brought more exposure to the league in Africa . '' Gyan 's transfer to Al-Ain is temporary , with the one-time Udinese striker still contracted to Steve Bruce 's Sunderland . The Accra native is unsure what the future holds and has not ruled out a move back to Europe or England . `` I 'm going to decide at the end of the season whether to move back to Europe or wherever I want to go . It depends on me the player , and my happiness . `` Everyone wants to play in England . I really enjoyed myself last season and I had many fans . Everyone was happy with my performance and I really , really enjoyed myself . '' Ghana are top seeds in Group D of the African Cup of Nations , having been drawn alongside Mali , Guinea and tournament debutantes Botswana .
Asamoah Gyan says pressure is on Ghana to win 2012 African Cup of Nations . The Black Stars have not won the competition since beating Libya in 1972 . TL;DR Ghana's coach insists his team will go through despite losing 1-0 at home against Nigeria. The 25-year-old wants to raise exposure of UAE side Al-Ain in Africa .