Asamoah Gyan acknowledges that Ghana was let down by his failed penalty against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
When he thinks back on the quarterfinal game, the striker still gets hurt. By becoming the first African team to go to the World Cup semifinals, the Black Stars had the opportunity to make history.
With the score locked at 1-1 in the waning seconds of extra time, Ghana had a free kick. Luis Suarez improperly saved Dominic Adiyiah’s goal-bound header on the line after Joseph Paintsil’s cross sparked a melee in the Uruguay area.
The former star of Barcelona purposefully blocked the ball with his hand, giving Ghana a penalty that Gyan blew.
The top player for Ghana, Gyan exuded assurance. He entered the game having scored three goals, two penalties, and one incredible goal against the United States in the previous round. The last person Ghanaians anticipated missing a critical penalty was him, but he did, and he says he regrets it.
The day before the Uruguay game, Gyan told FIFA, “I shot 20 penalties against our goalie during training, and I scored all 20.”
“I spotted the goalkeeper moving to the left as I moved to my left. Then, as I was firing the bad guy, I noticed him moving to my right. He made a feint at me before going after the ball. I had no idea how the ball had risen. Technically, something wasn’t right. I lacked the proper approach.
“I had to cry because I felt like I went from being a hero to being nothing. I failed my nation and the entire continent. I automatically think of it whenever I’m in a room. He continued, “I’m going to live it with for the rest of my life.
Gyan is currently Africa’s all-time best scorer in World Cup history with six goals.