[ 2013-12-31 ]

Abdul Majeed-Waris was one of the biggest revelations of 2013

2013 - the year in football: Players who dominated the headlines - from Majeed Waris to Ebenezer Ass
With 2013 set to fade out, GHANAsoccernet.com
looks back at the last 12 months and selects
Ghanaian players who distinguished themselves on
the pitch for both club and country.

Criteria: All Ghanaian players (both local and
foreign-based) were considered by our team and we
have settled on the best 11 for the 2013.

Adam Kwarasey – Black Stars & Stromsgodset

Despite failing to make any significant
appearances for Ghana in the entire year, the
26-year-old captured the first choice place at
Stromsgodset and completed all 30 games of the
season and conceding just 26 times.

The former Norway U21 shot-stopper has a trophy to
show for the year after winning the Norwegian
Eliteserien title with Stromsgodset.

Other options considered for the position: Fatau
Dauda – Orlando Pirates, Daniel Agyei – Free
State Stars, Isaac Amoako – Asante Kotoko

Daniel Opare Tawiah – Black Stars & Standard
Liege

After missing out of the 2013 AFCON squad, the
former Real Madrid Castilla defender bombed his
way back into the Ghana squad and played an
influential role in helping Ghana secure a ticket
for the 2014 World Cup finals.

Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah had the luxury of
shifting him before the lateral defense and he was
overly successful.

Opare has become a favourite for Guy Luzon at
Standard Liege due to his high efficiency and
featured in 29 Pro League games from January
picking 8 yellow cards in the process.

Other options considered for the position: Samuel
Inkoom FC Dnipro, Richard Kissi-Boateng – TP
Mazembe, Razak Nuhu – Stromsgodset

Harrison Afful – Black Stars & Esperance de
Tunis

The former Asante Kotoko defender reached the
semi-finals of the CAF Champions League with his
Tunisian side Esperance and also lifted the
Tunisian Ligue 1 trophy with Esperance.

The 27-year-old played 13 times for Ghana in the
calender year, including the World Cup
qualifiers.

Other options considered for the position: David
Addy, Nana Akwasi Asare and Richard Kissi-Boateng

Jerry Akaminko – Black Stars & Eskisehirspor

Though the former Heart of Lions man has excelled
in the Turkish top-flight and drew attention from
French giants A.S Monaco, the highlight of the
season will obviously be his performance for the
Black Stars in the 2014 World Cup qualifying
play-off victory over Egypt.

After an eight-month absence from international
action, the 25-year-old returned with Jonathan
Mensah and John Boye unavailable with injuries and
glittered, drawing praise from AC Milan ace Sulley
Muntari and Chelsea star Michael Essien.

Monaco have tabled a 9 million Euro bid to sign
him next month.

Other options considered for the position:
Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Davidson Drobo-Ampem

Rashid Sumaila – Black Stars & Mamelodi
Sundowns

From his loan days at Kotoko, the 20-year-old
became a massive revelation and proved his quality
and exposition of talent in the latter parts of
the year.

In a stop-gap role, he was able to stop Muhamed
Aboutreika and frustrate Mohamed Salah – the man
referred to as the Egyptian Messi.

He has walked his way into the Sundowns regular
squad and commands a first team place at the club
on his debut season.

Rabiu Mohammed – Black Stars & Kuban Krasnodar

While Michael Essien was in his resuscitation
period and away from international duty, Rabiu
used 2013 to remind us Ghana can have just a
quality replacement for Essien. And, he did that
at the 2013 AFCON.

The lanky midfield workhorse advertised his
qualities in South African and perpetuated it at
club level for both Evian TG and Kuban Krasnodar.

He missed the last three months of the year with
injury.

Other options considered for the position: Michael
Essien, Isaac Cofie, Yussif Chibsah

Kwadwo Asamoah – Black Stars and Juventus

Asamoah won two trophies in the calender year with
Juventus after winning the Supercoppa Italia and
winning the 2012/13 Scudetto title.

The former Liberty Professionals man translated
his club form to country and helped the Black
Stars to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, scoring a
crucial match winner against Zambia in September.

Other options considered for the position: Sulley
Muntari

Andre Ayew – Black Stars & Olympique Marseille

The 23-year-old has been the standout player for
Marseille despite their turbulent season which saw
them fail to win a single game in the Uefa
Champions League group stage.

Particularly in Marseille’s game away at Napoli,
Ayew put up a courageous display scoring a fine
finish.

The year also saw him return to national team and
helped the Black Stars beat Zambia and Egypt to
reach Rio 2014.

Other options considered for the position: Wakaso
Mubarak, Christian Atsu and Albert Adomah, Ishmael
Yartey, Frank Acheampong

Ebenezer Assifuah – Ghana U20 & FC Sion

Assifuah ruled the world with his prolific
striking instincts as he won the 2013 FIFA U20
World Cup after netting six goals to emerge
top-scorer at the competition.

The 20-year-old then switched club to join FC Sion
in Switzerland where he has kept his form in the
first half of the season scoring as many as 8
goals for the club (including goals for the U21
side).

Initially, the bulldozing striker had to work his
way into the Sion first team squad and he forced
his way through proving his credentials at the U21
level.

Assifuah is a talent for the future.

Other options considered for the position:
Shadrach Eghan

Abdul Majeed Waris – Black Stars & Spartak
Moscow

If there is any player who made his name in the
second half of 2013, then it is Abdul Majeed
Waris.

The young striker failed to allow his
disappointments at club level to influence his
form at national team as he scored three crucial
goals to contribute to Ghana’s 2014 World Cup
qualifying campaign.

His show against Egypt in Kumasi was the highlight
of his year. He also grabbed his first goal for
Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League
before the Christmas break.

Other options considered for the position: Mahatma
Otoo and David Accam

Asamoah Gyan – Black Stars & Al Ain

Gy-giantic Striker of the Years! The Black Stars
captain emerged top-scorer in the continent’s
qualifiers for Brazil and led Ghana to a
successful campaign.

He won a league title with Al Ain in the UAE Pro
League and decorated himself with a personal award
after scoring 31 league goals.

Other options considered for the position: Fred
Benson, Samuel Afum, Richmond Boakye-Yiadom

Do you think other players performed better and
should have been in the Top 11 players of 2013?
Let’s know what you have to say.

Source - Ghanasoccer

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