On 16 October 2009, Ghana made history by becoming the first African country to win the prestigious FIFA U-20 World Cup. Ghana was third time lucky after being runners up in 1993 and 2001.Â
Below PrimeNewsGhana looks at the gallant men who ruled the world in 2009 and where they are now?
Daniel Adjei
The safest pair of hands for the team at the 2009 FIFA Youth tournament. He kept the post in 7 matches and saved 3 of the penalties that won the trophy against Brazil.
He earned his first senior call to the Black Stars for the World Cup qualification match against Mali in 2009 and made his Black Stars debut on 18 November 2009 in a friendly match against Angola. Daniel Adjei has won a paltry five appearances for the Black Stars.
Daniel since 2013 has failed to earn a national team cup up and he currently plays for South African side Simba FC.
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David Addy
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Coach Silas Tetteh trusted left back at the tournament. started his career with the Tema-based side Inter Allies. The Youth tournament exploits secured him a move to Europe. He spent 5 years in Europe before moving to Indian club Delhi Dynamos. He is back in Europe playing for Latvia side Riga FC.
Samuel Inkoom
Inkoom was one of the few players who earned a place in the Blacks Stars squad for AFCON 2010 in Angola. A young Inkoom stared his career with Sekondi Hasaacas before moving on to Asante Kotoko where he earn his name. He has played in teams based in 8 different countries after leaving the shores of Ghana, namely Switzerland, Ukraine, France, Greece, United States of America, Portugal, Turkey and latest in Bulgaria. On 23 June 2017, the Bulgarian Football Union banned Inkoom for one year following a legal notice from FIFA that he had caused damages to a real estate worth 65 316 USD while he was playing for D.C. United.Â
Inkoom has played 46 matches with the Black Stars and he is relaunching his career in the Bulgarian League with Dunav Ruse
Jonathan Mensah
His performance at the tournament caught the eyes of Udinese but he was later loaned to Granada after failing to break through their set up. He then moved to Evian TG IN 2011, making just 49 appearances with the French club in his 4-year stay in France. Mensah currently plays for Columbus crew after leaving Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.
He is an established member of the Black Stars.Â
Daniel Addo
He received a red card in Ghana's final match against Brazil. Addo was named in Ghana's squad in June 2012 for the double 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zambia but never made it to the bench. The former King Faisal an AshantiGold defender is currently with Gokulam Kerala in the Indian League
Mohammed Rabiu
Rabiu signed for Russian based side Krylia Sovetov last month after edging his 3-year stint with Anzhi Makhachkala.
The former Libetry prodigy has had stints with several clubs in Russian. He has amassed 31 caps for the for the Black Stars.
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Emmanuel Agyemang BaduÂ
Agyemang Badu dispatched the final spot kick that earned Ghana her first trophy at the U-20 World stage.
In 2010, Badu was selected for his first Africa Cup of Nations as the Black Stars finished runners-up to Egypt, and went on to appear in the 2012 and 2013 editions of the tournament, with the team twice recording fourth-placed finishes.
During the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, in a group match between Ghana and Guinea, Badu flipped up a teammate's pass from just outside the penalty area and launched a mid-air volley to score a goal that was later nominated for the 2012 FIFA Puskás Award (FIFA's global Goal of the Year award)
Turkish Süper Lig club Bursaspor signed Agyemang on loan after he ended his seven-year stay with Udinese. He is without a club currently.
Abeiku Quansah
Abeiku Quansah moved from Windy Professionals F.C. to OGC Nice in 2008. He made his debut in the Coupe de la Ligue against US Creteil on 11 November 2008 and his second game in the Coupe de France on 3 January 2009 against Arras Football. After three year stint with the French club, Quansah signed for Arsenal Kyiv of Ukraine, making just 13 appearances. In October 2013, Quansah terminated his contract with Arsenal Kyiv due to financial constraints. He is currently in Egypt playing for El Gouna, a club he joined in 2014.
Andre Ayew
The captain of the triumphant U-20 side that ruled the world in 2009.
Ayew has been a full international for Ghana since 2008 and has earned over 75 caps.
The ex-Marseille chap has played in two FIFA World Cups (2010 and 2014), as well as five Africa Cup of Nations (2008, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017), helping them finish runner-up in 2010 and 2015. Ayew was the top Goalscorer of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
After featuring for Swansea City for one season, Ayew signed for West Ham United for a club record fee of £20.5 million on a three-year contract in August 2016, with the option of an extra two years. Ayew's debut game for West Ham, on 15 August 2016, against Chelsea, lasted 35 minutes before he was substituted after sustaining a thigh injury.
Ayew is currently on loan to Fenerbache, playing 22 games and scorer of 5 goals.
Dominic Adiyah
Awarded the Golden Shoe for the topscorer with 8 goals in 7 games and was also named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament of the 2009 FIFA World Cup.
Adiyah has not lived up to his full potential after having a blistering tournament. He earned a big move in 2010 to Italian giants AC Milan but failed to break through into the first team set up. He currently plays for Sisaket FC in Thailand.
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Ransford OseiÂ
Osei couldn't replicate the blistering form he showed in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he was described by FIFA.com as "an opportunistic goal machine" with superb pace and movement.
Osei was then recognized by World Soccer Magazine as one of the 50 Most Exciting Teenagers on the Planet in their November 2007 Issue.Â
His career has been curtailed with injuries. He has had stint with clubs in Europe and Africa and currently plays for FK Palanga in Lithuania.
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