Former Black Stars striker, Asamoah Gyan has revealed that the backlash after missing a penalty against Uruguay during the 2010 World Cup took a toll on him.
In the quarterfinal clash against the two-time World Cup winners, Gyan missed a crucial penalty in the final seconds of regulation time, with the match tied at 1-1.
The former Liberty Professionals striker, who had successfully converted penalties earlier in the tournament, sent the ball over the crossbar.
This miss proved costly, as Ghana eventually lost 4-2 in the subsequent penalty shootout, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
“The backlash was intense and it took a toll on me,” Gyan admitted at the Afro Sports Summit in Accra.
“But it also made me realize the importance of mental health. Athletes need to take mental health issues seriously and seek help when needed” he added.
Gyan also highlighted the influence of former defender Sammy Kuffour, who served as a mentor and source of inspiration.
“Sammy Kuffour was a trailblazer. His vision and tenacity for creating wealth helped me through some of my toughest times before and after my footballing career.”
Gyan, who announced his retirement in June 2023, remains the country’s all-time leading goal scorer with 51 goals and Africa’s leading goal scorer in the history of the World Cup.