Ghanaian MP Claims Asamoah Gyan intentionally missed W/Cup penalty

In what could pass for a serious allegation that is bound to generate a lot of reactions, a Ghanaian member of Paliament has bizarrely claimed that Asamoah Gyan intentionally missed his extra-time penalty against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup.

Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, a member of the center-left Ghana National Democratic Congress party, alleged that Gyan’s political biases influenced the striker’s performance on international duty.

In the first World Cup held on the African continent, a Ghana team captained by then-Sunderland defender John Mensah finished second in Group D, becoming the only African team to reach the knockout stage in the process.

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In the round of 16, Gyan scored in extra time to take the Black Stars to the quarter-finals after Landon Donovan canceled out Kevin-Prince Boateng’s opener from the penalty spot.

Against Uruguay Ghana had the opportunity to become the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the competition and once again the match went to extra time.

With the clash seemingly destined for a penalty shootout, Ghana were awarded a penalty when Luis Suarez was sent off for a now infamous handball.

Gyan stepped up to take the penalty but was unable to convert it and despite scoring in the ensuing penalty shootout, Ghana were eliminated on penalties.

Since hanging up his boots last year, Gyan has become involved in politics in his home country and recently accepted an appointment as a member of the manifesto committee of the NDC’s rival, the New Patriotic Party.

Speaking on Ghanaian radio earlier this week, Dafeamekpor claimed that Gyan intentionally missed the fateful penalty in 2010 due to his loyalty to the PNP.

‘YO “I am of the opinion that Asamoah Gyan intentionally threw out that penalty because he was under the NDC,” the lawmaker said.

“Today I realized that he took the penalty in the 2010 World Cup and the African Cup because glory would have come to the NDC.”

At the 2012 African Cup of Nations, Gyan again missed an important penalty and failed to convert against eventual winners Zambia as Ghana lost in the semi-final.

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Despite subsequently announcing an “indefinite hiatus” from international football following the missed penalty, Gyan would return to the national team later that year before retiring in 2022 as the country’s top scorer with 51 goals in 109 appearances.

There are indications that some will expect Dafeamekpor to prove how missing a penalty 12 years ago translates to political ambition today.