Former Ghana U-20 star, Ransford Osei, recently disclosed a captivating chapter from 2009, revealing that he lost the Black Satellites captain’s armband due to the arrival of Andre Dede Ayew. The revelation unfolded during the CAF U20 championship in Rwanda.
Having led the team successfully, Osei was asked to relinquish the captaincy after a victorious match against Angola when news arrived that Dede Ayew would be joining the squad.
Recalling the moment, Osei shared, “I captained the first qualification (U-20 AFCON) against Angola…So ahead of the second game against Gambia, I was in camp and they told me that the captain was coming so I should hand over the captain’s armband. And I asked ‘Which captain?’ Because since we started the U-20 I’ve been the captain all through so which captain again? They said Dede Ayew is joining and he will be the captain. I said ‘Oh okay’ and handed it over without saying anything,” he told Dokk Royal Channel on YouTube.
Assistant manager Orlando Willington conveyed the decision to Osei, who promptly complied without hesitation. Dede Ayew took over as captain, and Ghana went on to triumph in the U-20 AFCON, securing qualification for the U-20 FIFA World Cup.
”It was the assistant coach Orlando Willington. He gave me the information and I said oh okay I’ve heard…So before he even got to camp, they had already informed me.”
Ransford Osei’s impressive performance earned him the top scorer award with seven goals.
The team continued its success by winning the U-20 FIFA World Cup hosted by Egypt, solidifying Ghana’s position as the only African nation to clinch the tournament.
Watch the exclusive interview with Ransford Osei for more insights into this fascinating chapter in Ghanaian football history.
