‘It didn’t go down well’ – Bukayo Saka remembers Ghanaian friends’ reaction to Suarez handball at 2010 World Cup

England and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has revealed that his earliest FIFA World Cup memory was shaped by the historic 2010 tournament in South Africa, specifically the unforgettable quarter-final clash between Uruguay and Ghana.

Speaking to FIFA, Saka recalled how the tournament’s immense emotional stakes gripped his childhood household, which included several close Ghanaian friends who were left completely devastated by the match’s highly controversial ending.

The intense fixture remains deeply etched in global football folklore as Ghana fought valiantly to become the first African nation to ever reach a World Cup semi-final.

“I’d say my first FIFA World Cup memory was 2010,” Saka stated, reflecting on the legendary tournament hosted on African soil.

“Obviously, two standouts from the tournament were how amazing the spain team was.”

Beyond Spain’s technical dominance, it was the raw, heartbreaking drama of the African continent’s final remaining hope that left a permanent impression on the young forward.

The Black Stars were deadlocked 1-1 with Uruguay in the final seconds of extra time when Luis Suárez infamously used his hands to block a certain Ghanaian goal directly on the goal line.

“The other one was the game uruguay vs ghana,” Saka said, describing the iconic encounter. “Crazy game. We saw the handball, the penalty, all the emotions and how the game played out.”

The deliberate handball resulted in an immediate red card for Suárez and a penalty kick for Ghana. Striker Asamoah Gyan hit the crossbar with the potential match-winner, sending the game to a dramatic penalty shootout where Uruguay ultimately triumphed 4-2 to eliminate the West Africans.

For Saka, the global sporting tragedy hit very close to home due to his immediate social circle. The widespread emotional fallout was felt intensely within his own community, mirroring the deep heartbreak experienced by millions across Africa.

“We had some Ghanaian friends as well,” Saka concluded, remembering the somber mood. “That did not go down so well.”