Asamoah Gyan continues to abstain from Ghana penalty duties

Published on: 24 March 2014
Asamoah Gyan continues to abstain from Ghana penalty duties
Asamoah Gyan

Captain Asamoah Gyan insists he will only take penalties for Ghana during shoot-outs but not in in regulation time ahead of the 2014 World Cup finals.

But at club level he continues to bang in the goals from 12 yards.

Gyan was advised by his late mother to abstain from taking penalties for the Black Stars after the UAE-based striker was severally criticized following Ghana’s failed 2012 Nations Cup campaign.

The Al Ain striker missed a penalty in open play in the 1-0 semi-final defeat to eventual Zambia and he suffered abuses, which led to his temporary retirement from the national team.

Gyan says the decision to stand by his as a mark of respect for his late mum.

“Although my mother who advised me not to take penalties for Ghana is no more that is the last thing I have to do to pay my respect to her, so for now I won’t volunteer to take penalties for Ghana,” Gyan said.

“You see I am the first option in terms of spot kicks for my club, but that is not going to happen for Ghana because of previous experience, but during penalty shootout and it becomes mandatory for me to take a penalty I will.”

At the 2013 Nations Cup, Gyan was replaced by Mubarak Wakaso as Ghana’s penalty taker.

Gyan has scored a total of 39 goals and just one short of equaling Ghana’s all-time top scorer.

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