I was close to breaking my promise in 2012 - Asamoah Gyan

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has revealed he was close to breaking his promise of refraining from penalties on international duty during the 6-1 win over Egypt in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers playoffs first leg.

Gyan announced his decision back in November 2012 as a pledge to his later mother.

"I was tempted to take the penalty that was eventually taken by Sulley Muntari in our 6-1 win over Egypt,” the Shanghai SIPG star told Accra-based Hot FM.

"I wanted to take it to allow me score a hat trick but couldn’t because of my promise to my late mother."

He was pilloried when he missed a penalty in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals defeat to Zambia.

Some disgruntled fans marched to his parent’s residence to register their displeasure and that forced him quit international football temporarily.

His last-minute penalty miss against Uruguay which denied Ghana a historic 2010 FIFA World Cup semi-final berth, remains etched on the minds of Ghanaian.