GhanaFA

Gyan breaks silence on penalty miss

12 years ago
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Asamoah Gyan insists the hurt felt after his penalty miss in the semi-final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations will drive him on to win the trophy in future.

The Ghana striker saw his 8th minute kick parried to touch by Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene as the Chipolopolo went on to beat the Black Stars 1-0 in the last-four game in Bata last Wednesday.

The result dashed Ghana's hopes of reaching the finals of the tournament as the chase for a fifth title will have to wait until next year.

Gyan is not new to penalty setbacks in crucial moments after also missing a penalty kick in the quarter-final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Uruguay which drew criticism from certain quarters.

“It is hard for a footballer to miss a penalty kick, but it happens in big championships as we saw in football history and it is destiny to shot a penalty kick in a decisive time," Gyan told the official website of club, Al-Ain on his arrival from the Nations Cup.

“At these moments they have double responsibility. Many feelings simultaneously strike the players as they shot penalty kicks at this moment. In addition, he feels afraid of losing an ideal chance; it is a matter of luck mostly."

Gyan, who had kept his silence since his miss against Zambia, says he will be spurred on to win the trophy in the future with the Black Stars.

"For me losing this penalty kicks increase my will and determination to change the image of some people’s view about the player who missed a penalty kick, so I show my best and follow my ambitions and aspirations.”

The striker, who recovered from a hamstring injury before the start of the Nations Cup scored a goal at the competition as Ghana finished fourth.