2010 World Cup: Asamoah Gyan opens up on conversation with Stephen Appiah after missed penalty

Former captain of the Ghanaian national football team, Asamoah Gyan, has addressed and dismissed rumours of discord between himself and former teammate Stephen Appiah over the missed penalty during the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match against Uruguay.

Gyan clarified that he was designated as the primary penalty taker by the coach before the match.

He emphasized that he had successfully converted penalties in the previous group-stage matches against Serbia and Australia.

Despite the unfortunate outcome against Uruguay, hitting the woodwork after deceiving the Uruguayan goalkeeper, Gyan maintained that he was the appointed penalty taker for the team.

He further elaborated that even if Appiah had attempted to take the penalty, he would have deferred to Gyan, as per the coach’s instructions.

“Before every match the coach appoints the first penalty taker. So I played the first and second matches against Serbia and Australia. Even if Stephen [Appiah] had taken the ball, he would have brought it to me,” he told Onua TV.

“Hey, don’t think you cannot play o, we know you are the best so go and play. Let Ghanaians know you know how to play. The fact that there is a mistake does not mean you cannot do it again.”