Asamoah Gyan, the former striker for the Black Stars, has disclosed that he suffered psychological effects from the reaction following his missed penalty against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup.
Gyan missed a critical penalty in the last seconds of normal time in the quarterfinal matchup against the two-time World Cup winners, leaving the score knotted at one.
The ball went over the crossbar for the former Liberty Professionals striker, who had previously in the competition converted penalties with success.
Due to this costly error, Ghana was eliminated from the competition after losing 4-2 in the next penalty shootout.
“It took a toll on me because of the intense backlash,” Gyan said during the Afro Sports Summit in Accra.
However, it also helped me to understand how crucial mental health is. He continued, “Athletes should take mental health concerns seriously and seek treatment when necessary.
Gyan also emphasised the mentorship and encouragement that former defender Sammy Kuffour provided.
“Sammy Kuffour blazed a new path. Before and after my football career, he helped me get through some of the worst periods with his vision and perseverance for building money.
With 51 goals to his credit, Gyan, who declared his retirement in June 2023, continues to be the top goal scorer in the history of the nation and Africa during the World Cup.