Ghanaian footballers’ who couldn’t live up to the hype

Ghana has produced a lot of exciting football prospects over the years. The likes of Abedi Pele, Mohammed Polo, Osei Kofi and Tony Yeboah shone as teenagers and went on to live up to their promise at the top level.

However, there are a few talented footballers who showed a lot of early potential and saw their lights dim with the years. They kowtowed to the pressure of the big stage, failing to live up to the hype. Here is Pulse Sports' top five pick.

Nii Odartey Lamptey

He is arguably the most talented player Ghana produced in the 1990’s. Odartey rose to fame after his thrilling performance at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Italy, inspiring the Black Starlets to a world title. He was the star of the team with his play making artistry, and it did not comes as a surprise when he was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The great Brazilian football legend Pele, Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, was so impressed with the exceptional display of the Ghanaian youngster at the time that he tipped him to be his African heir.

However, in the subsequent years, Lamptey's career flattered to deceive. The brightest spot of his time at the top was with Anderlecht in the Belgian topflight. He failed to make an impact at Aston Villa and in the end Odartey ended his career without realizing his full potential as a footballer.

Ali Jarrah

He could have replicated the heroic feat of Robert Mensah in post, hadn't been injury that ended his illustrious football career. He was part the Black Starlets team that won the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1991 and was also a key player in the 1991 and the 1993 FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups in 1993.

Ali Jarrah also won the Toyota Most Exciting Footballer in Ghana in the early 1990's. However, his suffered a career setback when he initially got paralysed.

Awudu Issaka

He was the idol of every young Ghanaian football fan in the mid 90s. His dribbling and passing was unreal and entertaining.

He was the lynchpin of the Black Starlets team that ruled the world at the Ecuador 1995 FIFA U-17 World Cup, a feat that earned him a lucrative contract in Europe.

However, Issaka’s impact at the senior level was never as big as it had been during his boyhood days.

Issah Abdul Rahman

The Obuasi-born central defender is one of the most talented defenders Ghana has ever produced. He was a ball playing defender with an excellent ability to read a game. Issah Rahman was the pillar in defence for the Black Starlets team that finished runners up in the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Cup and also played a key role two years with the U-20 team (Black Satellites) at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, a tournament that saw Ghana’s run cut short through penalty shootouts in the quarter final by a star-studded Spanish side that has Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez.

Coach Giuseppe Dossena even promoted him to the Black Stars, yet injury troubles had a toll on a career that had looked so promising. In the end, he had to hang his boots prematurely.

Owusu Afriyie

He was a rare dribbler, exciting to watch. He played for the Black Starlets at the 1997 FIFA World Cup in Egypt. Ghanaians remember him for his skillful foot works and tormenting nature, so much so that he was nicknamed Bayie, which literally means sorcery or wizardry.

Sadly, his brilliance failed to transcend the U-17 level.

Quincy Owusu Abeyie

The former Arsenal man's story of not realizing his full potential is well known. In his youth, Abayie was a delight to watch with his explosive pace, step overs, back heels, dribbling and passing.

His however struggled to replicate that exuberance at the top. He wasn’t able to break into the first team of Arsenal and was sent on loan, before the team cashed on him. Even at the Black Stars level, despite the occasional excitement he produced, Ghanaian football fans endlessly criticized him of being a mere show boy without results, of not being productive in the final third of the field.