Ace sports journalist, Owusu Bempah has said that he disagrees with claims by a South African website that former Ghanaian defender, Sammy Kuffour is among the three best defenders on the African continent over the years.
Former Ghana defender Samuel Osei Kuffour was ranked as Africa’s third finest defender in a survey released by a South African website.
Kuffour, whose solidity at the back during his illustrious time with Bavarian giants Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga made him a household name across the African continent zoomed into the third slot just behind Steven Keshi and Lucas Radebe.
Ghanaian sport commentators have since praised the former UEFA Champions League winner for making it into the list which also includes Rigobert Song, Taribo West, Celestine Baba Yara and Nouredine Naybet.
However, Owusu Bempah speaking on Asempa FM’s Sports Morning Show Wednesday said he disagrees with the website, www.joburgpost.co.za, as according to him the Ghanaian does not deserve to be among the list.
His reason, he said stems from the fact that the likes of Musah Otieno of Kenya and Osei Kuffour of Ghana ‘have not done anything meaningful on the African continent’ to deserve a place on the top ten defenders of all time on the continent.
The veteran journalist speaking claimed that the top three should have comprised Wael Gomaa of Egypt, Rigobert Song and Emmanuel Konde.
Offering reasons for his selection, Bempa said Wael won three AFCON trophies for Egypt, Six Champions Leagues and a Super Cup with El Ahly.
The same player, he continued also won the best defender for the years; 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Wael Gomaa was chosen as part of the best African eleven 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Rigobert Song, Owusu Bempah said can also be credited with eight AFCON appearances of which he won two (2) playing one hundred and twenty three times (123) times for Cameroon.
Emmanuel Konde of Cameroon who joined the national team at the age of twenty five and played at the 1982 World Cup – 1984, 1986 and 1988 AFCONs where Cameroon won the afcon in 1984 and 1988 but lost the 1986 final to Egypt.
He also played a pivotal role in the historic World Cup quarter final appearance of an African country before Senegal and Ghana did same in 1992 and 2010 respectively. He has 66 caps and eight goals for Cameroon.
Nigeria’s Stephen Keshie, he stated would probably place fourth.
These analysis, he said makes these the favourites to be in the top three defenders on the continents and not Sammy Kuffour who is now a pundit on Supersports.
Below is the full list by www.joburgpost.co.za:
- Stephen Keshi- Nigeria
- Lucas Radebe-South Africa
- Samuel Osei Kuffuor- Ghana
- Rigobert Song- Cameroon
- Taribo West- Nigeria
- Celestine Baba Yara- Nigeria
- NOuredine Naybet – Morroco
- Khalid Badra-Tunisia
- Wael Gomah- Egypt
- Musah Otieno- Kenya