Sulley Muntari has shut down speculation of a rift with Asamoah Gyan after the former Ghana captain labelled his teammates as “cowards” over the infamous 2010 World Cup penalty miss against Uruguay.
During an Instagram Live session on January 2, Gyan revisited the painful moment, criticizing his teammates for not stepping up to take the crucial spot-kick.
“When the penalty miss happened, I was getting abused and called names because others said I should have left it to others. Why didn’t the others step forward to take it? They were afraid. Cowards. I will say it. They are cowards,” Gyan said.
Muntari, a key figure in that Black Stars squad, dismissed Gyan’s claim but instead highlighted the former striker’s leadership and influence on the team.
“Asamoah Gyan was the light of the team when we were playing. When we had pressure going into games, he used to sing and dance a lot, which made us forget about the pressure. Maybe he is not happy with something. I don’t think there was no support. I love Asamoah Gyan,” Muntari told 3Sports.
Muntari and Gyan were instrumental in Ghana’s golden generation, featuring together in three consecutive World Cups—2006, 2010, and 2014—amassing a combined 193 caps for the national team.