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Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, Asamoah Gyan, has voiced his frustration over the lack of support from his teammates during the backlash he faced after his infamous penalty miss in the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Uruguay.
In a candid Instagram Live session, Gyan defended his actions on that fateful night when Ghana was on the brink of becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal.
“When the penalty miss happened, I was abused and called names because some people said I should have left it for someone else,” Gyan said. “Why didn’t they step up to take it? They were afraid. Cowards. I will say it—they are cowards. The fans can say what they want, but sometimes we need to educate them. Yet, nobody spoke up for me.”
The incident occurred during extra time when Uruguay’s Luis Suárez deliberately handled Dominic Adiyiah’s goal-bound header, earning Ghana a penalty in the dying moments. Gyan’s subsequent strike hit the crossbar, and Ghana eventually lost in the penalty shootout.
Gyan also addressed accusations that he missed the penalty deliberately. “How could anyone suggest that I missed the penalty on purpose? For what reason exactly?” he asked. “I was Ghana’s first-choice penalty taker. Why would you go behind my back and talk about me missing the penalty?”
The former Black Stars captain’s comments reignite discussions about that historic match and the pressures athletes face during critical moments. Gyan’s words also highlight his lingering disappointment at what he perceives as a lack of solidarity from his teammates during one of the most challenging periods of his career.
As the nation reflects on this pivotal moment in Ghanaian football history, Gyan’s remarks remind us of the emotional weight carried by players in high-stakes matches and the importance of unity, even in adversity.
source:locogh.com