Asamoah Gyan won't reject 'decisive' penalty kick at 2013 Nations Cup

Published on: 17 October 2012

By Patrick Akoto

Asamoah Gyan says he will not shun away from taken a decisive penalty kick for the Black Stars at the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

The Al Ain goal-getter was a subject of massive verbal abuse after he missed an important first half penalty in the semi-finals of the 2012 African Cup of Nations against eventual winners Zambia.

The intense criticisms forced him to take an indefinite break from international football and only returned in July after claiming he had overcome his  psychological problems.

The former Sunderland man played an instrumental role in the country’s qualification to the next year’s Nations Cup as the Black Stars recorded a 3-0 aggregate win over Malawi in the qualifying campaign.

He says he will not reject the chance to erase the painful memory by stepping up the plate to take a penalty kick if he is picked by the coach in South Africa.

"It's not about shying off, one needs to stand up after mistakes.” Gyan told goal.com

“That is what normally makes a difference between success and failure.

“If the coach picks me (to take the spot kick), I will be prepared to do my best.”

Just as at the 2010 World Cup, many Ghanaian fans blamed him for the country’s exit from the tournament.

During the World Cup in South Africa, Gyan fired a spot-kick that could have made Ghana the first African team into the semi-finals against the bar deep into extra-time.

The Black Stars went on to lose the shot-out against the South American giants, just as Zambia fully profited from Gyan’s early miss in their Nations Cup meeting.

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