Ghanaian football legend Asamoah Gyan has opened up about the infamous penalty miss against Uruguay during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, describing the backlash he faced and the isolation that followed.
In a candid reflection on his Instagram page where he went live, Gyan expressed frustration over the criticism he endured, saying, “When the penalty miss happened, I was abused and called names because some people said I should have left it for someone else. Why didn’t they step up to take it? They were afraid. Cowards. I will say it—they are cowards.”
Gyan’s penalty miss in the dying moments of extra time denied Ghana the chance to become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal. Reflecting on the moment, he rejected the notion that he deliberately missed the shot. “How could anyone suggest that I missed the penalty against Uruguay on purpose? For what reason exactly? I was Ghana’s first-choice penalty taker. Why would you go behind my back and talk about me missing the penalty?” he questioned.
Despite being Ghana’s all-time leading scorer and a pivotal figure in the Black Stars’ journey, Gyan felt abandoned in the aftermath of the miss. “The fans can say what they want, but sometimes we need to educate them. Yet, nobody spoke up for me. I was alone and disrespected as Captain of the Ghana Black Stars,” he added.
Gyan’s emotional recounting sheds light on the immense pressure players face and the lack of support during challenging moments. His words highlight the need for solidarity and empathy, even in the face of national disappointment.
