Top 6 Ghanaian players in the last decade

Asamoah Gyan

The Black Stars skipper top the list of best Ghanaian footballers in the last decade. Gyan is loved by many both on and off the field of play, despite sometimes breaking the hearts of the nation.

He is the all-time top scorer of the Black Stars, with 51 goals in 106 games and is just two away from hitting half a century goal. Asamoah Gyan is also the greatest African scorer in the anal of the FIFA World Cup, with six (6) goals, having played in three Mundial and five African Cup of Nations. Cup.

The Black Stars skipper scored three goals to help the Black Stars reach the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, he missed a spot kick in the late minute of extra time to deny Ghana a place in the semi-finals, whereas his best AFCON tournament was in 2010, when he scored three goals to push Ghana through to the final, but bowed to Egypt. The 30-year-old attacker captained Ghana to the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but eventually surrounded to Ivory Coast on penalties. He made his senior national team debut in 2003.

Although Gyan had a short stint in Europe, playing for clubs in Italy, France and England. His goal scoring prowess was evident, before moving to the Gulf world. He was in a fabulous goalscoring form at Al Ain, emerging as the top scorer of the United Arab Emirates’ top-flight league in two consecutive years. He now plies his trade in Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese league.

Asamoah Gyan has finished second on two occasions in the contest for the African Footballer of the Year.

Michael Essien

The man called ‘Bison’ for his box-to-box midfield role and physique. His unique role in midfield compelled Chelsea football club to cough out a whopping sum of £24.5 million which became an African record in 2005 to complete his transfer, after emerging as the best Player in the French League.

He was very instrumental in the Black Stars team that qualified Ghana for their maiden FIFA World Cup in 2006 and also played a key role in the AFCON 2008, when Ghana finished third, having scored the match winner against Nigeria to propel the team to the semi-finals. Essien scored 9 games in 58 appearances for his country at the senior level from 2002 to 2014.

Michael Essien has had a sensational club career: He won several league titles with Lyon and helped Chelsea win the league in 2005/2006 season. In 2008 he scored great goals for the London club against Valencia and Arsenal. His versatility in midfield and defence was amazing. He played twice for Chelsea in the final of the UEFA Champions League, lost it in 2008, but got lucky in 2012, when they stunned overwhelming favourites Bayern Munich to annexe the ultimate.

Andre Dede Ayew

Like father, like son, Andre Ayew is a replica of his father Abedi Pele Ayew on the field of play. His dad was three times African footballer of the year, but the closest his son has come was the third place.

Andre Ayew led the Black Satellites to make history, becoming the first African side to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009 and was one of the few youngsters, who broke into the Black Stars team. Although he was part of the Black Stars team during the AFCON 2008, he earned a starting place, it was in the 2010 AFCON that he earned a starting place in the team and eventually became one of the untouchables in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, starting in every game, before his suspensions against Uruguay. Andre Ayew in the 2014 Mundial in Brazil bagged two goals, but Ghana failed to progress from the group.

The deputy Black Stars skipper has also played in two Africa Cup of Nations final, but unfortunately, Ghana lost on both counts against Egypt in 2010 and also lost on penalties to Ivory Coast in 2015, which he was the top scorer. Andre Ayew has 11 goals for the Black Stars in 67 games. The offensive midfielder made his Black Stars debut in 2007.

At club level, the 26-year-old played a key role in the success story f Olympique Marseille, helping them to win the French League cup in 2011 and 2012. Andre Ayew was an instant hit, after joining Swansea City from Marseille. He won the Barclays Premier League Player of the month of August and finished the season as his club’s top scorer.

Andre Ayew was named the BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2011 and in 2015 he won the SWAG Sports Personality of the Year. Also, he was adjudged the third best player on the African continent in 2011, behind Seidu Keita, the runner-up, the winner.

Sulley Muntari

The controversial midfielder is always a delight to watch on the field in both club and country. He has featured for the national at all levels: Muntari played for the Black Starlets in 1999, Black Satellites in 2001, Black Meteors in 2004. He had won his first Black Stars call-up in 2002.

Sulley Muntari’s trademark is his long through passes, long range shots and his ability to win balls in midfield. Muntari has distinguished himself in two major European leagues: England and Italy, where he played for clubs like Udinese, Inter and AC Milan all in Italy and Portsmouth in England. His best feat at club level was winning the historic treble with Inter Milan in 2010: Serie A, Italian Cup and UEFA Champions League.

The 31-year-old is one of the only two players, who have featured in all of Ghana’s three FIFA World Cup participation. The other player is Asamoah Gyan. Sulley Muntari has two goals to his name in the world Cup, scoring against the Cech Republic in 2006 and against Uruguay in 2010. Sulley Muntari has had 84 caps for Ghana at the senior level, having scored 20 goals from 2002 to date.

Although, he was sacked from the Black Stars camp alongside Kevin Prince Boateng in the 2014 FIFA World Cup his display against Germany was an outstanding one and became the talk of the town.

Muntari was part of the Black Stars team that placed third in 2008 when Ghana hosted the rest of Africa.

Stephen Appiah

The former Black Stars skipper is regarded as the greatest captain in the anal of Ghana football. His leadership quality earned him the name Capitano. Appiah was a talented and physically strong, all-round box-to-box midfielder, who was capable of defending well, as well as creating chances for team-mates and scoring goals himself, due to his vision, technique, aggressive tackling, and athletic attributes.

Stephen Appiah qualified Ghana to their maiden FIFA World Cup tournament in 2006 and the 2010: The Black Stars reached the round of 16 in 2006 and made it to the last 8 in 2010.

Stephen Appiah also played at all levels of the National Male Football Team of Ghana: At the U-17 level he was part of the Black Starlets group that conquered the world in 1995 and also took part of the World Cup in Egypt in 1997 at that same level, before joining the Black Satellites for Malaysia, where they came 3rd and also captained the Ghana Black Meteors at the Athens Summer Olympics. Appiah scored 14 goals in 67 international games for Ghana at the senior level from 1995-2010

Appiah has had a stint with several clubs in Europe. He played for Udinese and Juventus, before joining Fenerbahce in the Turkish league. At the local scene, ex-Black Stars captain had a good account of himself by winning the FA Cup best player of the year in 1996.

John Mensah

The Rock of Gilbrator, as he was affectionately called due to his strength and resolute nature at the back of the Black Stars.

John Mensah was part of the Black Satellites team that won a silver medal in 2001 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina and was promoted to the Black Stars, with fellow teammates, Sulley Muntari, John Paintsil, Michael Essien, Addoquaye Pappoe and Derick Boateng.

He has played in strong European leagues like Serie A, French League 1 and English Premier League, featuring for clubs like Chievo, Rennes and Sunderland.

His good tackles and positive reading of the game helped the Black Stars to qualify for a back to back World Cups and also excelled during the World Cup finals.

John Mensah’s contribution to the success story of the Black Stars in the 2008 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations was enormous: Ghana finished third in 2008 and won silver in 2010. The stalwart defender scored 3 goals in 86 games for the Black Stars from 2002 to 2012.