One of the greatest players in African soccer history had a name that, to many fans around the world, symbolized greatness.
Well, Abedi Ayew brought that greatness to African soccer, which is why he went by the name Abedi Pele.
1. He was on Ghana roster for the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations, which the Black Stars won.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B21QGMvp848/
2. And was also on the 1992 Black Stars team that were runners up in the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations.
There, he dazzled the entire world with his performance throughout the tournament.
3. His goal against Congo, which looked similar to Diego Maradona’s goal against England in the 1986 World Cup, earned Abedi the nickname “The African Maradona.”
4. He helped Marseille emerge as a perennial Champions League contender in the early 1990s, winning 2 Ligue 1 titles and the Champions League in 1993 (where he was man of the match).
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz-gW6jolAN/
5. He was one of the first Africans to earn votes in the FIFA World Player of the Year award, doing so in 1991 and 1992.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8Er1jnvvP/
6. He’s won France Football’s African Player of the Year 3 times.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BohdZQlFv9M/
7. He was the first winner of the BBC African Sports Star of the Year in 1992.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb4HGWDFIvT/
8. He had 33 goals for the Black Stars, a mark that held until Asamoah Gyan broke it in 2013.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BO5D0RBA-rM/
9. From 1982 to 1993, no one on the continent was better.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHGC_B7D2XP/
10. He appeared in 9 Africa Cup of Nations and dominated almost every single one.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDLCX1oAz2i/
11. In his final one in 1996, he carried Ghana to the semifinals of the tournament with 3 key goals.
https://www.instagram.com/p/bnyxCQQ5iG/