Posted by Jeff Bradley

DURBAN, South Africa -- It's been a World Cup full of surprises, but none more wonderful than what I've witnessed in the days since Ghana was cruelly eliminated by Uruguay in the quarterfinals. That night in Soccer City after I watched Asamoah Gyan rattle the cross bar with a penalty kick that would've pushed the Black Stars into the semis, I wrote that Gyan would be remembered not for carrying Ghana to the edge of history, but for being the guy who blew the big chance to push his country into the semifinals.

I stand corrected.

In the days since that game, South Africa has had an outpouring of love for Gyan and the Black Stars. There was a parade in Soweto. The Ghanaian players said they couldn't even shop at the mall as autograph seekers mobbed them. I saw Gyan doing interviews with a smile on his face. I read his quotes about how this moment would not stop his career.

In January, when I interviewed a number of journalists from Ghana about the importance of soccer in Africa, I remember one gentleman in particular spoke of club chairmen and coaches being held hostage for poor results. "The blame game," he said with a stern look on his face, "it is unbelievable. You don't mess with the Africans about football."

When I saw Gyan crumble to the ground after Ghana had lost, I remembered reading about how he, at 22, nearly left Ghana's national team because media and fans were being so hard on him about missed chances. The life of a slumping striker is hard all over, but from all reports, it seemed Gyan was more sensitive than most. I could not help but feel he would be eaten alive after his penalty miss. Again, I learned.

There's been a push for the entire month by the World Cup organizers, visible on billboards throughout South Africa, to "Celebrate Africa's Humanity." I can think of no better example than in the way Gyan and Ghana's Black Stars have been treated in South Africa.