Asamoah Gyan opens up on letting Africa down at 2010 World Cup, almost quitting football after penalty miss

Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan has reflected on the worst moment of his career, and how he went from almost quitting football to reviving his game. 

The Black Stars were on the verge of becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-final of the World Cup in 2010, but Gyan's 120th penalty miss against Uruguay ended a continent's dream.

Speaking to former Manchester United and England defender, Gyan disclosed that he immediately thought of ending hos career but was encourage after netting in the shootouts, which Ghana lost 4-2.

"I let Africa down," he said was his first though after the miss. "That was one of the worst moment of my career. I would have ended my career. Remember after the game, we went to penalty shootout and I took it first. So that was what revived my career, going to the penalty and scoring.

"I was scared. I was gone. My head, my everything was gone. I was emotional. It was crazy.

"I went there during the shootouts, I said to myself it was just a mistake, just go and prove to people you can score and that was what revived my career."

Morocco became the first African team to reach the semis of the World Cup after achieving the feat at the 2022 tournament.

Gyan went on to become Africa's all-time top scorer at the World Cup, scoring twice at the 2014 competition in Brazil.

 

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