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Sports News of Thursday, 17 October 2019

Source: footballghana.com

Penalty miss against Uruguay is now part of my life - Asamoah Gyan

Black Stars General captain Asamoah Gyan Black Stars General captain Asamoah Gyan

NorthEast United FC forward, Asamoah Gyan has revealed that his crucial 2010 FIFA World Cup penalty miss is something he will never forget.

Gyan, 33, struck his injury-time kick against the crossbar, breaking the hearts of millions of Ghanaians and Africans.

Had the former Sunderland forward scored, he would have propelled the Black Stars into the semi-final of the World Cup - the first by any African nation.

"In the 2010 World Cup, we were knocked out in the quarter-final in controversial circumstances," Gyan told Outlookindia.

"It was against Uruguay, and I missed a crucial match-winning penalty towards the end of extra-time, after a Luis Suarez handball.

"The penalty miss is something that I will never forget. It's part of my life now. I am not the only player, who missed a crucial penalty.

"We could have become the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-final. Sometimes when I am alone, I think about it and it still hurts.

"I feel, 'Oh! Maybe we can play the penalty again so that I can redeem myself.' Life goes on, I need to forget about it and live my life."

Ghana have since 2010 not gone close to the quarter-final of the World Cup.

In 2014, the Black Stars suffered a group stage exit while in 2018, they failed to qualify for the tournament altogether.

Gyan, though, has gone on to become Ghana's most-capped and all-time top scorer.