World Cup 2010 Highlights: The Story of Ghana and Nelson Mandela
A day after Ghana was defeated by Uruguay due to dirty tactics of Uruguay they were invited to the home of Nelson Mandela, an icon which had many difficult battles in his career. Mandela shake each of the teams hands including that of Asamoah Gyan who smiled upon seeing the great leader.
When Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty kick and then Ghana lost the game he broke in tears and was totally devastated. Their dreams is not only for Ghana but for the whole of Africa. They want to show the world that Africa has something to be proud about and that they can beat others in the world. They want to shout that this time is for Africa... It is "Waka-Waka."
Thus, when Ghana failed the dreams and hopes of Africa crumbled and fell with them. It was total devastation. Africa had been a country devastated by the horrors of war, disease, hunger and disaster. It is in events like this that they shine once again to the face of the entire world.
Here are a series of Photos courtesy of Yahoo! Sports and Getty Images. We do not own the photo and we are exhibiting it just to show the pain and the hopes of Africa embodied within Ghana and Asamoah Gyan.
Ghana's striker Dominic Adiyiah reacts during the penalty shoot out of the quarter final 2010 World Cup match Uruguay versus Ghana on July 2, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, a suburb on Johannesburg. (Photo credit STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's defender John Mensah (5) is comforted by midfielder Stephen Appiah and striker Asamoah Gyan after missing a goal in the penalty shootout during the 2010 World Cup quarter-final match Uruguay vs. Ghana on July 2, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. The penalty shoot out ended 4-2 in favor of Uruguay. (Photo credit RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan (R) is consoled after the team's loss in a penalty shootout and extra time in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final football match between Uruguay and Ghana on July 2, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, in suburban Johannesburg. Uruguay won the penalty shootout 4-2 after full-time finished 1-1 to advance to the semi-finals. (Photo credit GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's defender John Mensah (5) is comforted by Ghana's midfielder Stephen Appiah (10) and Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan after missing a penalty during the 2010 World Cup quarter final Uruguay vs Ghana on July 2, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburb of Johannesburg. Uruguay won 4-2 on penalty shots. (Photo credit GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan (front) is comforted by teammates at the end of the 2010 World Cup quarter-final match Uruguay vs. Ghana on July 2, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. The penalty shoot out ended 4-2 in favor of Uruguay. (Photo credit GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan reacts during the team's loss in a penalty shootout and extra time in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final football match between Uruguay and Ghana on July 2, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, in suburban Johannesburg. Uruguay won the penalty shootout 4-2 after full-time finished 1-1 to advance to the semi-finals. (Photo credit ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan reacts at the end of the penalties shootout during the of 2010 World Cup quarter-final match Uruguay vs. Ghana on July 2, 2010 at AFP Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. Uruguay won the match to quqlify for the semi-finals. (Photo credit GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's defender John Mensah (L) is comforted by Ghana's midfielder Stephen Appiah (C) and Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan after he failed to score in the penalty shootouts during the 2010 World Cup quarter-final football match Uruguay vs. Ghana on July 2, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. Uruguay qualified for the semi-finals. (Photo credit STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's striker Dominic Adiyiah reacts at the end of the penalties shootout during the of 2010 World Cup quarter-final match Uruguay vs. Ghana on July 2, 2010 at AFP Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. Uruguay won the match to quqlify for the semi-finals. (Photo credit STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Ghana's striker Asamoah Gyan (L) is comforted by a trainer at the end of the 2010 World Cup quarter-final match Uruguay vs. Ghana on July 2, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. Uruguay won 4-2 on penalty shots. (Photo credit GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
