Ghana 2010
Ghana carried the hopes of an entire continent at South Africa 2010 the first World Cup held on African soil. The Black Stars, led by Asamoah Gyan and Kevin-Prince Boateng, defeated the United States in the round of 16 to become the third African nation to reach a World Cup quarter-final. There, against Uruguay, they played one of the most agonising matches in World Cup history. With the score 1-1 in the final seconds of extra time, Dominic Adiyiah's header was heading into the net before Luis Suárez deliberately punched it off the line. Red card, penalty but Gyan's spot kick crashed against the crossbar. Ghana lost the shootout. An entire continent wept. Africa's dream of a first ever semi-finalist died in the cruellest possible manner denied not by footballing inferiority, but by a deliberate act that bent the rules of the game.
