The Black Stars of Ghana have failed to win the African Cup of Nations since the last success of 1982.
Ghana has since reached the grande finale in 1992, 2010 and 2015 losing all finals to Ivory Coast, Egypt and Ivory Coast respectively but where are the players who started the last AFCON final for Ghana in 2015 that coach Avram Grant was in charge?
Asamoah Gyan and Kwesi Appiah are without football clubs right now and seven of the starting players are at least 30 years old now. End of an era.
In this piece SPORTSWorldGhana.com tells you where they are currently and we start with Razak Brimah who is now 33 and currently plays in the 4th tier league of Spain.
GK Brimah Razak , 33 years : 27 caps for Ghana, 0 goals
Brimah was Ghana’s number 1 throughout the tournament and that repeated two years later in AFCON 2017 before Richard Ofori became first choice. Razak currently plays for Linares Deportivo in the 4th tier division of Spain.
RB Harrison Afful , 33 years : 84 games for Ghana, 0 goals
The slim defender is currently at Columbus Crew in the Major League Soccer (MLS) of the USA.
CB John Boye 33 years : 68 games for Ghana, 6 goals
Boaye is a pillar in the team of Metz in France.
CB Jonathan Mensah, 30 years : 65 games for Ghana, 1 goal
Has been solid for Columbus Crew in the MLS for three seasons running.
Jonathan Mensah of Ghana during the African Nations Cup match between Egypt and Ghana on January 25, 2017 in Port Gentil, Gabon. (Photo by Ulrich Pedersen/Icon Sport) (Photo by Ulrich Pedersen/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
LB Baba Rahman , 26 years : 28 games for Ghana, 0 goals
Baba currently a Chelsea player was on loan at Real Mallorca this season but it was a regrettable one after the former Dreams FC player appeared in just two league games as he spent majority part of the season in the injury room.
CM Wakaso Mubarak , 30 years : 58 games for Ghana, 12 goals
Mubarak always ready to “die” on the pitch. The Ashantigold academy product turns 30 today becoming the latest member of the 2015 AFCON starting list to hit the mark. Currently he plays at Jiangsu Suning in the Chinese Super League.
CM Afriyie Acquah , 28 years : 36 games for Ghana, 1 goal
Perhaps the best game he ever had with the Black Stars was this final match against the Ivory Coast when the midfield anchor outshoe the Almighty Yaya Toure. It was unfortunate the former Parma man missed his kick in the shootouts. Yeni Malatyaspor in the Turkey Super Lig is where Acquah plies his trade now.
RW Christian Atsu 28 years : 65 caps, 9 goals for Ghana
Voted as the most valuable player at the 2015 AFCON, Atsu has seen little action this season in the EPL with Newcastle United.
LW André Ayew 30 years now : 88 games for Ghana, 15 goals
Andre is still making it big this season in the Championship scoring an impressive 13 goals for Swansea City so far. Currently the captain of the Black Stars , it seems the son of Abedi Ayew still has it.
CF Asamoah Gyan 34 years : 109 caps, 51 goals for Ghana
The legendary Ghanaian striker is currently without a club. Gyan started the final match at the Bata stadium and played for the whole duration of the game including extra time but as Avram Grant was convinced the game was going to decided by penalty shootouts he replaced Asamoah Gyan with Agyeman Badu in the 120th minute. Why? Because Gyan had imposed a penalty kick ban on himself and there was no point not to sub him off.
CF Kwesi Appiah 29 years : 7 games for Ghana, 2 goals.
Kwesi Appiah is club-less at the moment and will hit the 30-year mark on August 12. He made his debut in Ghana’s 2–1 win over South Africa on 27 January 2015 and scored his first international goal in the quarter-final victory over Guinea. He had short stint with the Black Stars but his forward runs and movements was something that excited Ghanaians.
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Frank Achemapong, Jordan Ayew and Agyeman Badu were used substitutes.
