Retired Ghanaian football legend Asamoah Gyan has publicly expressed his frustration and disappointment with his former Black Stars teammates, accusing them of abandoning him during one of the most difficult periods of his career.

In an emotional Instagram Live session on Thursday afternoon, Gyan revisited the infamous penalty miss against Uruguay during the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, which ended Ghana’s hopes of becoming the first African team to reach the tournament's semi-finals. 

The former Black Stars captain did not hold back as he addressed the criticism he has endured for over a decade, particularly from fans. Gyan, who was Ghana’s designated penalty taker, clarified the circumstances surrounding the missed opportunity and took aim at his teammates for failing to publicly support him.  

"Anyone could have taken the penalty. Why would I deliberately miss it and disgrace Ghana? You were all afraid of the pressure. Everybody was scared, cowards!" he said.  

The penalty miss, which occurred in the dying moments of extra time, has been a focal point of Gyan’s career. Though he later converted his penalty in the subsequent shootout, Ghana ultimately lost to Uruguay, a result that sparked widespread disappointment across the continent. 

Gyan also criticised teammates who, according to him, allowed rumours to persist that another player wanted to take the decisive penalty. "And then someone claimed they wanted to take it, but I took it. Why won't you come out and affirm it if it's true? You were happy to let them insult the taker. None of you came out to speak, deny it, or explain that I was the first-choice penalty taker." 

The Black Stars' all-time top scorer, with 51 goals to his name, revealed his pain at being the target of public anger while his teammates remained silent. "The fans can say whatever they like, but you, my teammates, should have defended me. Instead, you were scared, and when they mentioned my name, you kept quiet while I faced it all alone. I was loved by the people, and yet you instigated them to speak ill of me," Gyan added.  

The 39-year-old retired in 2023, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as Africa’s top scorer in World Cup history, with six goals. However, the incident from 2010 continues to haunt him, even as he transitions into life after football. 

Gyan’s comments have reignited conversations about the camaraderie and accountability within the Black Stars during their historic World Cup campaign, as well as the long-lasting impact of that fateful match in Johannesburg.