Ghana legend Michael Essien should have won at least one African Footballer of the Year award in his prime, according to his former Black Stars teammate Derek Boateng.
Boateng, who featured alongside Essien at the 2006 World Cup following their days with Ghana’s U17 and 20 sides, believes the Chelsea icon deserved the award more in 2007 when he finished second behind Frederick Kanoute.
Despite a glittering career, especially at club level, Essien remains among the list of illustrious men never to have won the African Footballer of the Year award.
Essien placed third in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009 and second in 2007.
“He should have won the African best player award, I think in 2006-2007 during his time under [Jose] Mourinho at Chelsea," Boateng continued.
“That time when he came second, we all thought he was going to win and we all felt bad he didn’t win it. He deserved it.
“I don’t think he cares o much about it now. He’s always a happy person and thinking positive.”
Boateng and Essien starred for Ghana at the 2001 Fifa U20 World Cup in Argentina, where the West Africans claimed the silver medal.
They were reunited at senior level for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.