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Ghana's finest XI since independence

Pulse Sports has produced a list of Ghana's finest eleven players based on positions , since independence

Ghana finest XI in the past 60 years ; Robert Mensah, John Paintsil, Ofei Ansah, Addo Odametey, Sammy Osei Kuffour, Michael Essien, Osei Kofi, Abdul Razak, Asamoah Gyan, Abedi Pele and Baba Yara.

Justification for the 11-man squad selected

Robert Mensah

The former Asante Kotoko and Edusua Dwarfs goalkeeper is undoubtedly the greatest goalkeeper Ghana has ever seen. His heroics in Kinshasa against Englebert won Asante Kotoko their maiden CAF Champions League in January 1971. He was also the number shot-stopper for the Black Stars, as they reached the final of the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations, which Ghana lost 0-1 to DR Congo. Robert Mensah is rated as one of the best goalkeeper of all-time on the African continent.

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John Paintsil

The ex-Liberty Prof, West Ham and Fulham right full back was a key member of the Black Stars team that played in the FIFA World Cup in 2006 and 2010 and also helped Ghana reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010.

Ofei Ansah

He played effectively either as a left or right full back for Hearts of Oak and the Black Stars. He defended and attacked well and played a key role in helping Ghana win the 1978 and 1982 Africa Cup of Nations.

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Addo Odametey

The former Hearts of Oak and Real Republicans centre back won two Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana in 1963 and 1965 and was the captain of the 1965 winning team. Odametey was a pillar in defence.

Samuel Osei Kuffour

The former Bayern Munich defender was part of the Ghana team that played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and also played at all levels of the junior national teams of Ghana and won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1991. He was voted the BBC African Player of the year 2001, after winning the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich.

Michael Essien

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The former Chelsea man was part of the Black Stars team that made their maiden appearance in the FIFA World Cup, 2006 and also helped Ghana to place 2nd in the AFCON 2010. He was voted BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2006.

Abdul Razak

He was the talisman of the Black Stars team that won the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations and was subsequently voted the best player of the tournament and also won the African Player of the Year, 1978. Golden Boy was also the heart of Asante Kotoko team in the late 1970's.

Osei Kofi

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The former Kotoko nimble footed player was part of the 1963 and 1965 AFCON winning teams. In 1965 he was the one who orchestrated Ghana's win against Tunisia in the grand finale. Osei Kofi was also Ghana's all-time topscorer in the AFCON before Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew beat the record. The wizardry dribbler is rated as one of the cleverest players Ghana has ever produced. He was a play-maker, scorer, supplier of incisive passes,etc. No wonder he was recommended by the legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks to Stoke City in the late 1960's.

Asamoah Gyan

He has played in all of Ghana's FIFA World Cup appearance, scoring 6 goals as Africa's greatest scorer in the competition's history. The Al  Ahli striker is also the Black Stars all-time top scorer with 49 goals and was also part of the Black Stars team that reached the final of the 2010 and 2015 AFCON finals, but lost on both occasions.

Abedi Pele

The maestro as he is affectionately called was a regular member of the 1982 AFCON winning team and also captained the Black Stars to the final of the 1992 AFCON, but they lost through a marathon shootout to Ivory Coast. He was the first player to win the African Footballer of the Year, three consecutive times.

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Baba Yara

The king of wingers epitomised the skill of a true Ghanaian footballer. Some pundits of the game believe he is the greatest player to emerge from Ghana. His amazing skills, creativity and goal scoring was amazing. It is just unfortunate that an accident ended his illustrious football career and was in wheels for few years before he passed away. The fact that a national stadium has been named after him in Kumasi speaks volumes of the indelible marks he left in the minds of many football loving fans and the nation as a whole

Substitutes (27) making a total of 38

Richard Kingson, Jor Carr, Ben Acheampong, Kwasi Appiah, Awuley Quaye, Kuuku Dadzi, Dogo Moro, Franklin Crentsil, Frank Amankwa, Mohammed Polo, Stephen Appiah, Malik Jabir, Jones Attoquayefio, Wilberforce Mfum, Andre Ayew, Aggrey Fyn, Ibrahim Sunday,  Tony Yeboah, Kwasi Owusu, Opoku Afriyie, Opoku Nti, Adolf Armah, Sulley Muntari, John Mensah, Asebi Boakye, Ofei Dodoo and Yaw Sam

The coach to lead the team is: C.K Gyamfi - He masterminded three of Ghana's four AFCON victories in 1963, 1965 and 1982.

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The coach to lead the team is: C.K Gyamfi - He masterminded three of Ghana's four AFCON victories in 1963, 1965 and 1982.

Assistant coach: Milovan Rajevac, the Serbain trainer- He guided the Black Stars to the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup in 2010, which equaled Africa's best feat in the competition.

N/B: The selection of players was based on positions. That is why a player like Mohammed Polo was left out of the XI finest, because he was competing with Baba Yara and Osei Kofi for one of the two slots for wingers.

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