Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Yaya Touré, Michael Essien grew up seeing his majestic football skills. He was the first footballer who showed Kevin-Prince Boateng, Rigobert Song, Asamoah Gyan and Emmanuel Adebayor that African players can write his name in the history of football. He is Abedi Ayew, Africa's first prominent representative to the world of football. Because of his amazing football skills, he is nicknamed as the ‘Pelé’ of Africa. He was the first African player to prove that African footballers can compete and perform in any other continent in the world.
Abedi Ayew’s club career is quite colorful. In addition to his home country Ghana, he has played in Switzerland, Benin, Qatar, Italy, and most notably in France. Marseille and Lille supporters still remember his name. The first Champions League trophy victory in the history of French club football came because of his extraordinary perfomance in the 1993 Champions League final. It was Abedi Ayew’s outstanding skill that defeated superpower AC Milan to win the Champions League in Marseille.
Since 1990, Abedi Ayew led the Ghana national team for six consecutive years, and won the African Cup of Nations in 1992. He holds the record for most goals scored by a Ghanaian with 33 goals (later overtook by Asamoah Gyan). Unfortunately, this legend never had the opportunity to play in the World Cup for Ghana. However, his three sons - André Ayew, Ibrahim Ayew and Jordan Ayew - have overcome that regret. Ibrahim and Andre played for Ghana at the 2010 World Cup, and Andre and Jordan played at the 2014 World Cup. Abedi Ayew also won the “African Footballer of the Year” award for three consecutive years in 1991, 1992 and 1993. The Ghanaian government honored him with the country's highest honor, the Order of the Volta. He was the first Ghanaian athlete to receive this award.
Abedi Ayew is widely recognized as one of Africa's greatest footballers of all time. He perfectly proved African football talent in the true sense. Without him, perhaps the renaissance of African football would never have happened !!!