Following his team's elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Ghana captain Andre Ayew has spoken for the first time since his penalty miss against Uruguay.
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On Friday, a much-anticipated match took place in Group H as the Black Stars looked to exorcise the demons of 2010 when they took on Diego Alonso's Uruguay.
In the World Cup encounter 12 years ago, Luis Suarez handled the ball on the goal-line in the dying embers of the match to give the west Africans the opportunity to secure their passage to the semi-finals from the spot.
Asamoah Gyan, who was the team's designated penalty-taker, would miss the subsequent spot-kick, though, and the four-time African champions would go on to be eliminated via a penalty shootout.
In 2022, history would repeat itself as Ayew stepped up to take a 21st-minute penalty and potentially give Ghana an early lead in their final group encounter against the South Americans.
Unfortunately, the Al Sadd forward missed, and five minutes later, Giorgian de Arrascaeta would score the first of his two goals that would ultimately condemn Otto Addo and his charges to World Cup elimination.
For the first time since that penalty miss, Ghana's most-capped player ever has finally broken his silence.
"Our final group match result was not what we were looking forward to in the tournament, but unfortunately it ended up this way," the 32-year-old said via his official Instagram account.
"I am very, very proud of all my teammates for putting up a wonderful team spirit on and off the pitch, for our country Ghana.
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"Personally, it has been very difficult moments for me in the past few days. I lost my godson the morning before the Portugal game, and my daughter was also rushed to the hospital after the Uruguay. Thanks to the Almighty Allah, she's getting better.
"This difficult moments will inspire me to come back stronger and better in the future, and so I believe, will the Black Stars.
"In our true Ghanaian spirits, we will never say die, until the bones are rotten, wo kum apem a, apem beba.
"Thank you all for your prayers and unwavering support.
"Rest in peace, Adam."
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