June 2nd, 2010 witnessed the quarter final match between Uruguay and Ghana for a place in the semi final in soccer city stadium during the 2010 world cup. It was the first ever world cup hosted on African soil since the tournament started.

The game started pretty well with both teams chasing each on the all over the pitch for goals until Sulley Muntari 30-yard strike on the stroke of half time gave Ghana the lead before the break. Will Ghana hold the lone goal till 90 minutes was everybody’s question during the half time? However, the lead was short lived immediately the half time commenced when the Diego Forlan superb free kick left Ghanian keeper Richard Kingson dumfounded on the 55 minutes. Both teams kept chasing victory until 90 minutes.

Shortly after the break, the extra 30 of the encounter started with no team hitting the back of the net. The last minutes of the extra time was fascinating inside the Uruguay’s box when Dominic Adyiah’s goal bound header from a rebounded block had beaten the keeper who was outside his line to give victory to the Africa first ever world cup semi final match when the ball was punched out. Oh my god, What a save!!. The keeper was unbelievable. Oh no!!, it wasn’t the keeper this time. Liverpool Luiz Suarez had intentional used his right hand to slap ball in front of the 18 yard box and it was cleared.

The referee wasted no time in given what was an obvious straight red card to Suarez and was shown the exit when the responsibility fell on Asamoah Gyan who had converted two penalties in the tournament to play what was not-so-sure penalty in the 120 minute of the extra time.

This was the last kick of the match, the tension was high. Gyan placed the ball on the spot, the stadium transformed to a grave yard within seconds, and spectators held their breath and prayed to their respective God. It was time to take the decider, Gyan made is little run, beat the keeper to the wrong side and shot straight on the cross bar to end the game to 1-1 draw. He couldn’t believe himself.

The stadium was engulfed with a mixture of happiness and sadness. Luiz Suarez has translated from the bad boy to Uruguay messiah. The Uruguay fans and coaching crew erupted in jubilation in what Ghanians saw as a day light robbery. It was heart breaking. Eyes could not hold the tears. Could there be any possibility for a rematch? That was off FIFA’s rule.

In what later ended 4-2 in penalty kick out in favour of Uruguay, the Ghanian fans and Africa had only one person to blame. It was the inability of Gyan to convert a penalty that will take them to the semi final of the world cup. This was a pure case of cheating and missed golden opportunity.

Gyan will carry this nostalgia feeling for the rest of his life and the next time this opportunity will present itself again remains in the heart of many Africans.