‘Till today, it still haunts me,’ – Asamoah Gyan
- Gyan missed a penalty that would send Ghana to the World Cup Semis in 2010
- The former Ghana Captain admits he cried all night
Asamoah Gyan has admitted that his penalty miss for Ghana against Uruguay in 2010 still haunts him to date.
The former Sunderland forward missed an extra-time penalty that would have sent the Black Stars to the Semi-Finals of the 2010 World Cup.
Ghana were on the verge of becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup Semi-Final when they were awarded a penalty in stoppage time of extra-time after controversial Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez used his hands to prevent a Dominic Adiyiah’s header from finding the net.
Suarez would then be given his marching orders and Gyan given the penalty duties. Gyan would have his spot kick smash onto the bar and thereby missing a chance of sending the team to the last four in what was their second World Cup campaign.
Speaking to TV3 Ghana, the 34-year old said:
‘Sometimes I feel like the world should go back again so I can redeem myself, but I know this is something that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
‘I accept that because there is nothing I can do about it. I went there to save my country, but I ended up being the villain, which I accept because I know how people feel.
Gyan’s latest competition action with his country saw him used twice as a substitute in last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they crashed out to Tunisia on penalties in the Round of 16.
The 34-year-old was not due to play after announcing his retirement just before the tournament, but was persuaded to reverse his decision following talks with Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo.
And Gyan, who is Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals in 109 caps, insists retirement has taken a back seat in his bid to try and secure national team honours, which is yet to happen in his 17-year international career.
‘It looks like people want to retire me, but I’m not done yet,’ the former Sunderland forward continued.
