Former Ghana striker Kwesi Appiah has described earning his maiden call-up to the senior national team as a dream come true.
Appiah, who previously played for Crystal Palace, made his debut for the four-time African champions under coach Avram Grant.
Although he missed the first two matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Appiah made a memorable cameo appearance in the match against South Africa, quickly winning the hearts of Ghanaian fans.
His performance earned him a starting spot in the quarter-finals, where he scored a goal and then went on to provide two assists in the semi-final.
“The call-up itself was great, but putting on that shirt for the first time and gracing the pitch with my teammates was euphoric and a dream come true,” Appiah told Flashscore.
Appiah has paid tribute to former Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan, highlighting the significant void left by the country’s all-time leading scorer.
The two players shared the pitch during Ghana’s 2015 AFCON campaign, where the Black Stars finished as runners-up.
“Gyan was always someone I admired from afar and I followed his career, as he was the star of our national team for many years. So to eventually be alongside him and partner him up front was a moment I will cherish forever. He’s a true legend and a great human being,” he added.
Gyan’s remarkable career, particularly with the Black Stars, saw him score 51 goals in 109 international appearances, making him Ghana’s all-time leading scorer and one of Africa’s most prolific strikers.
With six goals across three FIFA World Cups, he holds the record as the highest-scoring African player in World Cup history.
