There's no place for Asamoah Gyan in the Black Stars' greatest-ever XI, which is testament to their strength
Few African nations have developed as many talented players as Ghana, who have produced six African Footballer of the Year winners and enjoyed the services of some of the continent’s all-time greats.
But who would make an all-time XI of the Black Stars’ finest players?
We’ve selected the best of the country’s legendary team from the 1960s, the Africa Cup of Nations-winning heroes of 1978 and the generation that reached the quarter-final of the 2010 World Cup to put together the ultimate Ghana Dream Team.
GK: Robert Mensah
A giant of the domestic game, Mensah was part of the legendary Asante Kotoko team of the 1960s that culminated in victory in the African Clubs Cup in 1970.
He also featured for the Black Stars at both the Africa Cup of Nations and Olympic Games in 1968, winning a silver medal in the first event.
Renowned for his playful antics on the pitch, as well as his awesome goalkeeping fundamentals, Mensah made enemies aplenty with his mockery of opposition strikers, occasionally even reading a newspaper while keeping guard between the sticks!
Ghana was plunged into mourning when he was murdered – aged only 32 – in 1971.
AdvertisementGettyCB: Samuel Kuffour
Kuffour enjoyed a successful 12-year spell at Bayern Munich, an unprecedented feat for an African player to have such a long and trophy-laden tenure at one of Europe’s genuine elite.
During that period, he won six Bundesliga titles, as well as the Champions League in 2001, having been on the losing side two years earlier when Manchester United’s treble-winners staged their remarkable Camp Nou comeback.
Kuffour’s international career preceded the Black Stars’ glorious run at the 2010 World Cup, although he was part of the side that secured the nation’s first qualification for the global showpiece four years earlier.
CB: James Kuuku Dadzie
An Africa Cup of Nations winner with Ghana in 1978, Dadzie was one of Africa’s finest defenders during the late 1970s and even made the Team of the Tournament for his performances en route to the title.
He was also celebrated for his leadership skills, having captained the national side at the 1980 Afcon, and since retirement, has claimed that he’s the greatest central defender the national side has ever known.
He represented both Sekondi Hasaacas and Asante Kotoko in his homeland, and has coached Ghana’s women’s team – among other assignments – since retirement.
CB: Charles Addo Odametey
The first member of the glorious Ghana team of the mid-1960s to make the cut, Odametey captained the Black Stars to success at both the 1963 and 1965 Nations Cups as they established themselves as the team of the decade.
The Hearts of Oak great was also a key figure in the side that reached the final three years later, only to fall to a fine Democratic Republic of Congo team.