JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 02: Dominic Adiyiah of Ghana heads the ball towards goal and Luis Suarez of Uruguay handles the ball off the line during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Uruguay and Ghana at the Soccer City stadium on July 2, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Paul Gilham - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

I still don’t like Luis Suarez due to 2010 World Cup heartbreak - President Mahama confesses

· GhanaSoccernet

President John Dramani Mahama has admitted he still harbours resentment toward Luis Suárez over the striker’s infamous handball during Ghana’s clash with Uruguay at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Mahama made this remark while addressing guests at the Ghana World Cup fundraising campaign on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra.

“I still remember 2010 vividly, the energy that was in the air. The nation stands still, united in hope," he said.

"As we came within a whisper of gaining world glory. I still don’t like Suarez since that incident, and I have never wished him well for what he did,” Mahama added.

The incident remains one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history. Luis Suarez deliberately handled Dominic Adiyah's goal-bound header on the goal line in the dying moments of extra time, denying Ghana a historic semi-final spot.

Despite being sent off, Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty, and Ghana went on to lose the match in a penalty shootout.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars will make their fifth appearance at the Mundial this summer and will come up against Panama, England and Croatia in Group L.

Ghana will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, face England on June 23, and conclude the group stage against Croatia on June 27.