Eli Avot
Football is the passion of the nation. Over the last 63 years since Ghana gained Independence, the country has produced a host of Ghanaian football talents that have gone on to become household names and even made a name for themselves on the continent and beyond.
Check out list of Top ten Ghanaian Footballers below
10. Mohammed Polo
Known as the dribbling magician, Polo was one of the most exciting Ghanaian players in the 80’s and late 70’s.
Nicknamed the dribbling magician, He featured for Accra Hearts of Oak and was part of the Black Stars squad that won the last 1978 AFCON title. Polo was the inaugural winner of the Ghana Footballer of the year award in 1975.
9. Robert Mensah
Robert Mensah is undoubtedly Ghana’s best ever goalkeeper. Standing at a staggering 2m tall, the shot stopper was immense in the post for Ghana in the 1960’s and 70s.
He represented Ghana as they finished runners up at the AFCON in 1968 and the Olympic Games in Mexico that same year. He won the African Club Cup with his local club Kotoko and played there till he was murdered in 1971.
8. Baba Yara
The story of Baba Yara is similar to that of Robert Mensah in the sense that these are two brilliant footballers who were taken from us rather too soon. Baba Yara was a stalwart for the national team, winning the AFCON with the team in 1963. and his club sides Kotoko and later the Real Republicans.
He was labelled ‘the King of all wingers’ by fans who watched him. He died after complications from injuries he suffered in a car accident on return from an away match with the Real Republicans in 1964. He died in 1969 aged 32.
7. Tony ‘Yegoala’ Yeboah
Tony Yeboah is one of the best CFs to ever play for Ghana. Yegoala as he is known, played for the Balck stars for 12 years, between 1985 and 1997, scoring 29 goals in 59 games. Yeboah was part of the Ghana team that reached the final and semi final of the AFCON in 1992 and 1996.
At club level, he is a bundesliga legend, winning the golden boot award in 1993 and 1994. He is also remembered fondly by EPL side Leeds United after two brilliant seasons at the club. Yeboah has made the top 3 of the African Footballer of the year award twice and also finished 9th in the ballon d’or voting in 1994.
6. Ibrahim Sunday
Ibrahim Sunday was a Kotoko and Black Stars legend but somewhat failed to win any Major trophy with the Black Stars. His was a case of “too close yet too far” as the former Black Stars player lost two finals with the team.
He was however the first ever Ghanaian to be named African Footballer of the year in 1971. He was also named in the top 50 African footballers of the 20th century by IFFHS.
5. Karim Abdul Razak ‘Golden Boy’
The golden boy at the peak of his prowess won the 1978 African Player of the year award in the same year he won the AFCON title with Ghana. Golden boy is a legend for both his club Kotoko and the Black Stars.
He also had a stint with New York Cosmos where he played with German legend Franz Beckenbeur.
4. Samuel Kuffour
Sammy Kuffour is one of the best ever GHANAIAN defenders in history. The former Bayern Munich star enjoyed an illustrious 12-year playing career with the German giants, winning 17 titles, including 6 Bundesliga trophies, 4 DFB Pokal cups and 1 Champions League trophy.
For Ghana, he won the U17 World Cup in 1991 before going on to have a remarkable career with the Black Stars and representing the nation at their first ever World Cup appearance in 2006.
3. Michael Essien
The ‘bison’ is one of the finest ever midfielders produced in Ghana. In his prime, Essien was simply unplayable.
He made his Black Stars debut in 2002 after a remarkable performance at youth level and never looked back.
Essien was an instrumental figure in Ghana’s 2006 World Cup qualification and campaign and also played in 3 AFCON tournaments. At club level, Essien won 2 premier league titles and one UCL with Chelsea in an 8 year career and also played for Lyon, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bastia.
2. Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan is as good as Great Black Stars players get, simply put. The former Black Stars Captain has been immense for the National team and represented the nation at all levels.
The Baby Jet is the first player to score in 9 consecutive international tournaments and also the highest scoring African footballer at the World Cup.
He has played in 7 AFCONs for Ghana, teaching the finals twice and the semi final on 4 other occasions.
1.Abedi Ayew Pelé
Abedi Ayew Pelé is undoubtedly the greatest ever Ghanaian player.
What separates Abedi from the rest on the list is how he maintained a high level of consistency for both his national team and club level. As a youngster, Abedi won the AFCON in 1982 .
As Black Stars Captain, he led the team to the final in 1992 but lost on penalties. At club level, Abedi enjoyed a good playing career at Marseille where he won three Ligue Un titles and the 1993 UEFA Champions League trophy.
He also became the first player to win three consecutive African Player of the Year awards and the only Ghanaian to win it multiple times. The maestro is truly an African great.
