John Dramani Mahama has admitted that he still feels resentment toward Luis Suárez over the infamous handball incident that denied Ghana a place in the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking at the Black Stars World Cup fundraising event held at the Kempinski Hotel on Friday night, Mahama revisited the emotional memories of Ghana’s historic quarter-final clash in Johannesburg, describing the atmosphere and national unity that surrounded the tournament.
“I still remember 2010 vividly… the nation stood still, united in hope as we came very close to making history. I still don’t like Suárez since that incident, and I have never wished him well for what he did,” Mahama said, prompting reactions from the audience.
The controversial moment occurred in the final stages of extra time when Suárez deliberately handled the ball on the goal line to prevent a certain goal. He was sent off, but Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty, and Ghana eventually lost in a shootout.
Mahama’s comments echo the sentiments of many Ghanaians who still regard the match as one of the nation’s most painful near-misses on the global stage. The remarks were made during a fundraising initiative aimed at supporting the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Ghana will compete in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.
