6 iconic sports personalities since Ghana's Independence

Ghana as a nation has claimed lots of laurels in sports since the country’s independence.

The country is now regarded as one of the best sporting nations on the African continent.

After gaining independence in 1957, Ghana can boast of lots of talents when it comes to sports.

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There are many sporting disciplines in the world but Ghana has achieved a lot in football, Track and Field, and boxing.

These athletes won lots of laurels for Ghana as they projected the nation.

There are many athletes who have played a role in helping the country attained global stature.

But YEN.com.gh brings you 6 of these athletes who are the country’s iconic sports personality since independence.

1. CK. Gyamfi

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Gyamfi played and coached the Black Stars of Ghana. As coach of the Ghana national football team, he won the African Cup of Nations three times (1963, 1965 and 1982), making him the most successful coach in the competition's history.

This record has since been equalled by Egypt's Hassan Shehata. He died on September 2, 2015.

He became the first Ghanaian to play for an European Club.

2. David Kotei Poison

Before Kotei, Ghana had produced crafty boxers but failed to annex the world title.

Kotei, however, defied all odds by becoming the first Ghanaian professional boxer to win the world title.

He defeated Rubén Olivares on September 20, 1975 to win the WBC world featherweight belt.

3. Azumah Nelson

He became the second Ghanaian to win the world title for Ghana. Nelson is regarded as the greatest boxer to come from Africa.

He defended his WBC world featherweight title for 10 years after claiming the belt on December 8, 1984. He knocked out crowd favorite Wilfredo Gómez in round 11.

4. Abedi Pele

Abedi is regarded as the greatest Ghanaian footballer. During his active days he was one of the most skillful footballers in the world.

He won the Africa Footballer of the Year three times (1991, 1992, ad 1993).

He was part of Ghana’s team that won the AFCON in 1982 in Libya. Abedi has capped 73 times for Ghana, scoring 33 goals in the process.

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5. Asamoah Gyan

Though Gyan is yet to win a major silverware for Ghana, his exploits for the Black Stars can’t be written off.

Gyan helped Ghana to quality for her first World Cup in 2006 in Germany. He also scored Ghana’s first ever World Cup goal; the goal happened to be the fastest goal of the tournament.

He is the only Ghanaian footballer to have played in all the three World Cups the country has participated in.

He is currently the only African to have scored the highest goals at the World Cup. Gyan has scored six goals.

Gyan holds the record as the most capped Black Stars player with 106 appearances. He is also the country’s all-time scorer with 51 goals.

6. Aziz Zakari

Zakari participating in the 2000 Summer Olympics, made it to the final of the 100 metres, but failed to finish after becoming injured at about the 35m mark.

Also participating in the 2004 Summer Olympics, he clocked second place in his 100 metres heat, thus making it through to the second round.

Heading into the second round, he was victorious in a tough sprint, before achieving qualification from his semi-final.

This good form was not able to continue, as he failed to finish in the final. The event was renowned as possibly the fastest collective 100 metre race in history, where six of the seven finishing athletes completed the race in ten seconds or less.

He won three Gold medals for Ghana during the African Championships in Athletes in 2000.

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Source: YEN.com.gh