Guinea Goalkeeper Naby Moussa Yattara has said in plain words that he will not apologise to Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan for injuring him in their quarter-final clash in Malabo last Sunday.
The goalkeeper thwarted Gyan’s efforts in the dying minutes of the game, resulting in his eventual sacking, reducing his side to 10 men.
To Yattara, apologising to the Black Stars captain suggests his action was deliberate, hence his decision not to apologise.
He managed with his sketchy Queens language shortly after his lunch at the team’s hotel – Sofitel Presidential, saying “I won’t apologise. If I apologise, it means it was deliberate. It was not my intention to hurt him; I came out to kick the ball. If I didn’t kick, he would score.”
Many, including the victim, Gyan, have called for a stiffer punishment from the Confederation of African Continent (CAF) for the 31-year-old goalkeeper.
The AC Arles – Avignon (French Ligue 2) goal stopper, before seeing red, had conceded a goal by striker Kwesi Appiah and a brace by Christian Atsu.
Gyan has since been flown to Mongomo to ascertain the degree of his injury via scan.