12 years after South Africa 2010: African football fans celebrate Luis Suarez's grief

Ghanaian football fans were joined by others across the continent and the world to celebrate the pain that Uruguayan skipper Luis Suarez felt when his side beat the Ghana Black Stars at the World Cup but failed to qualify from their group.

Images of the former Liverpool man shedding tears at the prospect of exiting the tournament were beamed across the screens at the Al Janoub Stadium in Doha and also trended on social media platforms - especially Facebook and Twitter.

From Nigerian journalists to Somali activists, a Kenyan lawyer and others across the continent and the world, it was justice done Ghana and the Black Stars for Suarez, the villain of 2010, to be weeping because of a lack of qualification.

Roll back to 2010, Luis Suarez cleared a goal-bound effort with his hands when the two sides met in a quarter-final game in South Africa. Unfortunately, the resulting penalty was missed by Asamoah Gyan with Uruguay going on to win on penalties.

It appears that most Africans were waiting for the Black Stars to beat Suarez and the Uruguayans but in the absence of that, the fact that Uruguay crashed out and that Suarez was captured sobbing seems to have placated most fans.

See some of the reactions below:

I am sad Ghana is out. But I am over the moon they went down with Suarez's Uruguay. You teeth are offsideeeeeeeee, Luis Suarez, your teeth are offside!

— Mohamed Wehliye, MBS (@WehliyeMohamed) December 2, 2022

I would like to thank the match director for the constant images of Luis Suarez in different stages of distress

— Casey Evans (@Casey_Evans_) December 2, 2022

Somehow this is even MORE painful for Suarez and that makes it worth Ghana's exit for me. Thanks guys! @GhanaBlackstars ????????????????????????????

You've finally given me closure for 2010!!!! Thank you Qatar!!! I LOVE EVERYBODYYYYY????????????????????????????????

— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) December 2, 2022

If Ghana need any consolation,it's seeing Uruguayans heartbroken and Suarez in tears.

On TV, Asamoah Gyan has called it karma, in reference to 2010, he convenientlly takes himself out of the picture. #FIFAWorldCup

— Kanyomozi District (@PatriqKanyomozi) December 2, 2022

This twelve year #Suarez/#Ghana karma is actually one of the great #WorldCup stories.

It’s Shakespeare updated - tragedy, triumph, pain, revenge, irony, even comedy.

With one of the great little villains getting his comeuppance. Lovely stuff.

???? https://t.co/AUxPWkRRM0

— Lee Wellings (@LeeW_Sport) December 2, 2022

That was the sweetest revenge from Ghana! Luis Suárez and Uruguay will never forget this day. Africa is happy.

— Alinur Mohamed (@AlinurMohamed_) December 2, 2022

Karma is real, Suarez and Uruguay eliminated Ghana in 2010 and 12 years later Ghana made sure Suarez and Uruguay were sent home in the group stages

— ُ ???? (@Lil__Aziiz) December 2, 2022

I’m hearing of this Suarez guy for the first time today but I’ve decided I’m his biggest hater ????????

— Jason Okundaye (@jasebyjason) December 2, 2022

Ghana fans now they’re out of the World Cup but Luis Suarez is as well

pic.twitter.com/GFVQnp6juK

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 2, 2022

The Black Stars of Ghana had one task going into their final Group H fixture at the 2022 World Cup.

Win at all costs, worse case draw against Uruguay and secure passage into the Round-of-16 stage of the competition.

The match was, however, settled with three major incidents in the first half. A penalty miss by Black Stars skipper Andre Dede Ayew, when the score was goalless.

Then Giorgian de Arrascaeta's two goals for Uruguay which came in quick sucession, consigned the Black Stars to a second World Cup defeat against the South Americans who broke hearts of Africans in 2010.

Their 2 - 0 victory over the Black Stars was, however, not enough to get them through to the next round of the tournament as South Korea beat Portugal 2-1.

With Uruguay in dire need of a third goal to progress to the next round of the World Cup, Suarez was reduced to tears as efforts to score another goal proved futile.

Portugal and South Korea advanced from Group H as Uruguay and Ghana exited the tournament after finished 3rd and 4th respectively.

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