Andre Ayew: Losing 2010 AFCON Was Worse Than World Cup Exit

Ghana international winger Andre Ayew recently told L'Equipe that losing the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final in Luanda against Egypt felt worse than when his Black Stars were ousted on penalties at the 2010 World Cup and denied a historic appearance in the semi-finals of the tournament. The feat would have made history, as Ghana would have become the first African team to reach the last four of the World Cup. �It�s a horrific memory. My status changed during the competition but the result is still there. We dominated but took a goal five minutes before the end of the match on their only chance of the game. I won�t ever watch that game again,� said Ayew of the 2010 Afcon final against the Pharaohs. Though when asked to compare that defeat to the penalty kick loss to Uruguay in Johannesburg, the 22-year-old was unequivocal in stating that he regrets narrowly missing out on his first continental trophy much more. He also added that the national team feel a great deal of pressure to set things right in the 2012 edition which is begins on Saturday in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. �I was gutted by the way the team was eliminated [in the penalty shootout]. It was difficult to accept. It was a quarter-final, we could have gone into the history of African football but we were two matches away from the title,� he explained. �In the Afcon we were five minutes away from extra time and maybe 30 minutes away from a title. It was harder for me. People must understand what a title on your own continent represents. We feel this pressure this year.� When asked to expound on his team�s chances at the continental showpiece, Ayew made it abundantly clear that he is aiming for the title and nothing else, while conceding that Senegal and Morocco are two other favourites for the competition, while neglecting to mention Cote d'Ivoire. �I am here to win it. It won�t be easy but we will win it if we are at 100 per cent. I do not want to end my career without any trophies with my national team. When you have a chance to win it, you have to take it. Senegal and Morocco [are favourites], two teams with great players,� he concluded.