The Black Meteors of Ghana missed out twice on the chance to play at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

All these missed opportunities were as a result of missing key penalties after the matches ended in a stalemate.

Ghana lost to Ivory Coast on penalties after the game ended in a draw.

With another opportunity to get an Olympic ticket in the third place play off, Ghana lost 7-6 on penalties with certain key players deciding to stay off penalty duties for fear of insults.

According journalists Jude Acheampong key players like Kwabena Owusu and others refrained from taking the penalties because they will be the subject of insults from Ghanaians.

There was this guy, Fuseini, who had been one of the excellent penalty takers in training. He had played four penalty kicks and not even one went off but when it mattered most he was running away,” Jude told Joy Sports.

“Kwabena Owusu was with the Black Stars. In fact, one of the players who had gone into the mainstream, came back and was feeling comfortable and in a buoyant mood after scoring those two goals [against Mali]. We thought he was going to take the last penalty but he swerved it because he was afraid of insults.”

Owusu is reported to have said in Akan: “Why should I go and play this kick when Ghanaians are ready to insult me if I miss?”

Acheampong’s report, as shocking as it sounds, was corroborated by team coach Tanko. “The players are afraid to miss penalties because of insults they will receive back home, so they are in two minds when they are going to play,” he told the media after the defeat.