In the age of Black Lives Matters, it is vital we celebrate the talents of black people. Here we recognise the talents of Ghanaian football players.
While there is a lot of negativity in the world today, it could be argued that we are focused on the lives of black people for the wrong reason. Here, rather than focus on the challenges and difficulties faced in a time of Black Lives Matter, we want to offer celebration for the immense talent that exists across the globe. In this guide into Ghana’s players, we want to introduce you to those who give the sports commentator cause to declare “he’s a real match-winner.”
Ghanaian footballers play around the globe, from the Premier League to Ligue 1 and from Serie A to La Liga. It seems that Ghana is blessed with more than its fair share of top talent that has made it in the tough world of the European Leagues. Here we consider those players that deserve this title of match-winner and what qualities they demonstrated through the 2019-20 season so far.
Mukarama Abdulai
Being so young and so successful means you need an absolute mass of natural talent. Indeed Mukarama Abdulai stormed to success in 2018 at the age of 17 when she scored seven goals in the U-17 Women’s World Cup. She won both the Golden Show and the Bronze Ball - so rightfully giving her the title of the best prospect in women’s football across the world.
Her form has continued into the 2019-20 season, as she gained a scholarship to further her education at a college in Texas. Now, at the age of just 18, she scored a massive 23 goals for the Tyler Junior College team - which meant they went on to win the championship.
You sense that Mukarama is definitely going to be a first-team starter for the Ghanaian Women’s national football team well into the future.
Jordan Ayew
During the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Jordan Ayew was hands down the best player on the park for Ghana. His place as number 9 is assured with his goalscoring talent, but also his ability to influence the team around him and orchestrate strategy from the front.
Ayew began 2019 as a player on load. He was playing for Crystal Palace, with Swansea City as his parent club. However, by the end of the 2018-19 season, he was playing on a permanent deal at Selhurst Park for the Palace. Although he was left on the bench a lot of the time to begin we, he has quickly grown in stature and is now seen as a keystone player holding the team together.
If you need any persuasion of the quality of this player, then you only need to know that he has unseated Christian Benteke as the first-choice striker for the club. This is quite some achievement!
Kwame Bonsu
Bonsu plays for the top Tunisian team, Esperance. He was the team’s top performed in the CAF Confederations cup - establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in Ghanaian football. Bonsu has not had it easy in life and certainly during his football career to date. However, 2019 saw a rise in his fortunes and he should be congratulated for his perseverance and resilience, as well as his talent. In March, he was named in the squad for the Black Stars to play in the Africa Cup of Nations. He took the field again the Kenyan team with some flourish.
Thomas Partey
When we say that Partey has secured a place in the first team of Atletico Madrid, then you know we are dealing with a superstar here. He has been in amazing form and was given full credit when he was selected as part of the team for the Champions League. It is his consistency that is so powerful - and this only served to heighten the disappointment when he didn’t join the team for the Africa Cup of Nations last year. Still, he was still awarded football of the year in 2019 - so still deserving of his place on this list of the greats of Ghanaian football.
Aidoo was part of the Genk team in Belgium that won the league. 2019 was the year that his football came together and he was able to start as centre-back not only for the club but also for the country. The quality of this Black Star player was clear when he was signed into the top flight of Spanish football. He was bought for a healthy eight million Euros by Celta Vigo. If you think he was in danger of bench riding by swapping to such a big league, never fear! He has started every game for the team since signing - very impressive!
Mohammed Salisu
Salisu moved to Spain when he was a teenager, which demonstrates the talent of this player. He is a key player in the starting squad in the Valladolid - establishing himself as a regular starter. He is a confident player for someone so young and has the power to boss the central defence. Even from centre back he has managed to score for the team too. His call up to the national team has been well-earned by the youngster and with time he will likely become a central player to the success of the Ghanaian squad.