Former Black captain Asamoah Gyan has shed light on why Ghana fell short against Egypt in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, attributing it to a shift in tactics.
Despite a rocky start to the tournament, Ghana showcased resilience and determination to reach the final. After a disappointing loss to Ivory Coast in the opening match, they rallied with a narrow victory over Burkina Faso to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. With Gyan’s crucial goals against Angola and Nigeria in the knockout stages, Ghana advanced to their first final since 1992.
However, facing the defending champions Egypt in the final proved challenging. Gyan believes that Ghana’s departure from their defensive approach in earlier games worked against them, allowing Egypt to capitalise and secure victory with an 85th-minute goal.
“We were more defensive in 2010 with our setup. That’s why we embarked on a one-goal project. But we played proactively in the finals and we unfortunately lost.” he told captain Smart on Onua Maakye.
Reflecting on the match, Gyan expressed dismay over a critical substitution made by then-coach Milovan Rajevac during a pivotal moment in the game. He described it as one of the most perplexing decisions he has encountered in his career.
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“I was pained because I predicted I would score. But when [the Egyptians] scored and were celebrating, I saw the No. 3 on the substitution board. It is one of the weirdest substitution I have seen in my entire career.” he added.
Despite the disappointment of the final, Gyan’s contributions to the team were significant, finishing the tournament with three goals. Throughout his illustrious career, he amassed a total of 51 goals in 109 appearances for the Black Stars, becoming the nation’s all-time leading scorer.
Gyan, who retired from professional football in June 2023, is now focusing on off-field endeavours. He has launched the All Regional Games project, aiming to discover young talents across various disciplines beyond football.