Asamoah Gyan, Ghana’s all-time top scorer, has sharply criticized his former Black Stars teammates for failing to support him after his infamous penalty miss during the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay.
With the match nearing its end in extra time, Ghana was awarded a penalty after Luis Suarez’s handball prevented a certain goal. Gyan, tasked with the responsibility of converting the spot-kick, struck the crossbar, and the match eventually went to penalties, where Ghana was eliminated from the tournament.
During a recent Instagram Live session, Gyan opened up about the intense backlash he received following the missed penalty, revealing the personal toll it took. He expressed frustration that his teammates, who were also present on the pitch, did not step up to take the responsibility in his place.
He said, “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.”
Despite the harsh criticisms, Gyan emphasized that while fans were vocal in their disappointment, none of his teammates came to his defense. He called for a broader understanding of the pressures players face and lamented the lack of solidarity from his own team during one of the most defining moments of his career.