Twelve years later, Ghana has not forgotten. He who could have become the first African country to reach the last four of a World Cup, in 2010 in South Africa, had finally been eliminated in an incredible way by Uruguay.
The image remains in the memory: in the last seconds of extra time, when the score is 1-1, Asamoah Gyan places a header which goes towards the goal. Luis Suarez, on his line, then decides to stop the ball with his hand, like a goalkeeper. Expulsion and penalty… Missed by the same Gyan. The South Americans won on penalties, leaving Ghana to their tears.
” The devil himself “
Three World Cups later, Suarez is still there and, on the eve of the reunion between the two nations for their last group match in Group H, he is bound to be the center of attention. Finally, that of the Ghanaian followers in any case. The latter did not miss the press conference on Thursday to relay to the former Barça striker what they say about him in the country.
One of them notably let him know that he was considered “like the Devil himself” in Ghana. Respondent’s response:
“I’m not going to apologize for that. Admittedly, I took the ball out of my hand, but it was not me who missed the penalty. I could have apologized if I had tackled and injured a player while taking a red card, but in this situation I took a red, the penalty was called, but it’s not my fault if the Ghanaian missed it. »
One point for him. The Blacks Stars, however, still remember his outburst of joy after Gyan’s failed attempt. It has still not passed, like the whole of this sequence, according to the testimonies reported by AFP. “We have never forgiven Suarez,” said Ghanaian parliamentarian Collins Adomako-Mensah, for example. He should expect sparks from our boys. Just as we cried twelve years ago, he will cry on Friday. »
“I hated that day,” recalls Samuel, a 36-year-old supporter he met in Accra, the capital. We expected to party, but we cried in the streets. “Not enough to move Suarez more than that. “You can’t keep dwelling on it,” replied the Uruguayan striker from a distance.
Among the players and the Ghanaian coach, no one really wants to come back to this episode. What good would it do, anyway, when the important game is Friday. “Everyone felt bad (in 2010), but I just want to take the next step, assured captain André Ayew, the only one of the 26 Ghanaian players who was already there at the World Cup in South Africa. I don’t look back, I don’t want to focus on the past. »
His coach, Otto Addo, also tried to temper things at a press conference: “It will be a different approach against a difficult team. We will have to be at our best to hope to beat them, but I have confidence. This incident goes back a long time, and it should not necessarily be thought of in terms of revenge. » A victory on Friday would certainly send Ghana to the round of 16, it is the only thing that matters before this meeting.