Gyan quits Ghana penalties
by Gary Al-Smith 13 November 2012, 09:52
Ghana' striker Asamoah Gyan said on Monday he will not take penalties for the Black Stars in honour of advice he received from his mother who passed away last Tuesday.
Al-Ain striker came under fire in his country after he missed two crucial penalties in the World Cup 2010 and the African Cup of Nations in 2012.
The 26-year-old robbed the Black Stars from a historic semi-place in the last World Cup when he missed a penalty against Uruguay, few seconds before the extra-time ended and the Uruguay won the shootout 4-2 after a 1-1 draw in their World Cup quarterfinal game.
In the last edition of the African Cup of Nations, the former Sunderland striker had the chance to put the Black Stars in the lead in the 8th minute of their semi-final clash against Zambia but Chipolopolo's goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene blocked his kick and the Black Stars lost 1-0 thus failing to reach the final.
Following the last African Cup of Nations' fiasco, Gyan decided to take a break from the international duty before returning last July. "No. I will no longer take penalty kicks for Ghana," he told Accra-based Asempa FM.
"My mother had advised me not to no longer take penalties. And now that she is gone, I will like take this advice. I will not go in to take penalties for Ghana."
The four-time African champions succeeded in reaching next year's African Cup of Nations, featuring in Group B with Mali, DR Congo and Niger.
