Gyan steps back, Ghana still pays the penalty

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) -Ghana and Asamoah Gyan had planned it differently this time, but the result was still the same.

Penalties haunted them again Wednesday in a semifinal loss to Burkina Faso at the African Cup of Nations.

Gyan had chosen not to take penalties at the tournament after a string of crucial misses from the spot by the striker in recent big matches for Ghana, including the quarterfinals at the World Cup and semifinals at the last Cup of Nations.

He stood back and watched this time, but the result was as painful as 2010 and 2012 as Isaac Vorsah, Emmanuel Clottey and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu missed in Wednesday's shootout and Ghana was eliminated.

Gyan says that now "I have to go to the guys and psyche them up.''