Muntari diffuses Gyan-Appiah penalty issue

Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari has knocked down reports that there was a scramble between Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah to take the last-gasp penalty kick during their World Cup quarter-final match against Uruguay.

Speaking on Ghana Television on Monday, the Inter Milan ace said the team had utmost confidence in Gyan as the lead penalty-taker and that Appiah only picked the ball for him.

The Rennes forward smashed his kick against the cross-bar to deny the Black Stars victory.

A picture of Appiah pointing his index finger in the face of Gyan with youngster Dominic Adiyiah restraining the former from any confrontation, nourished rumours that there was a problem before the kick was taken.

Gyan’s spot kick could have secured a historic semi-final berth for Ghana after the score was tied at 1-1 in extra-time.

Ghana went to lose 4-2 on penalties at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg