Former Ghana captain Andre Ayew has defended Asamoah Gyan over his missed penalty against Uruguay at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, saying the striker’s contribution to the Black Stars’ campaign must not be defined by one painful moment.
Ghana were seconds away from becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final when Luis Suarez deliberately handled Dominic Adiyiah’s goal-bound header during the closing stages of extra time.
Suarez was sent off and Ghana were awarded a penalty with virtually the final kick of the match. Gyan, who had already converted from the spot earlier in the tournament, struck the crossbar.
The miss sent the quarter-final into a penalty shootout, which Ghana lost 4-2. The result ended their hopes of making history in South Africa and remains one of the most painful episodes in Ghanaian football.
Ayew, who was part of the Ghana squad at the tournament, said there had been no anger towards Gyan because of the role he had played in taking the team so far.
“We weren’t angry at Baby Jet [Asamoah Gyan]. Without him, we wouldn’t have got that far,” Ayew said on the Obi One Podcast.
“Suarez’s handball killed the hopes of not just Ghana, but the whole continent. We believed we could surprise the world.”
Gyan has faced years of criticism for failing to convert the penalty, despite the fact it came only after Suarez’s deliberate handball had prevented what appeared to be a certain goal.
Ayew’s remarks highlight the circumstances surrounding the incident and the broader impact of Gyan’s performances throughout Ghana’s 2010 campaign.
The Black Stars had reached the quarter-finals after an impressive run in South Africa, raising hopes that the team could deliver a landmark achievement for African football.
Instead, the late handball, the missed penalty and the subsequent shootout defeat combined to deny Ghana a place in the last four.
For Ayew, however, Gyan should be remembered for helping Ghana reach that stage rather than being held solely responsible for the outcome of a match decided after a dramatic final sequence.