President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that he still harbours lingering resentment toward Luis Suárez for the infamous handball that denied Ghana a historic World Cup semi-final berth in 2010.
Speaking at the Black Stars’ World Cup fundraising event at the Kempinski Hotel on Friday, Mahama recalled the painful memory that continues to resonate with Ghanaians.
"I still remember 2010 vividly, the energy that was in the air. The nation stood still, united in hope. We came within a whisper of world glory. I still don’t like Suárez since that incident, and I have never wished him well for what he did," Mahama said, eliciting laughter and nods from the audience.
The incident remains one of football’s most talked-about controversies. In the dying minutes of extra time during the quarter-final in Johannesburg, Suárez deliberately handled the ball on the goal line, denying Ghana a sure goal. Though he was sent off, Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty, and Ghana eventually lost in the shootout.
Mahama’s remarks highlight a sentiment shared by millions of Ghanaians, for whom the 2010 defeat remains a painful near-miss on football’s grandest stage. The comments were made amid efforts to rally support for the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Ghana will face England, Croatia, and Panama in Group L.
