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The game is for the young; pretty simple and plain.
There’s no hiccup, football and its appeal largely belong to the young. As the third most populous region in Ghana, many have argued that the western region has had the most immense contribution to Ghana’s football history.
The Black Stars have four African Cup of Nations titles; out of the four, two skippers were players nurtured and brought to light playing in the region. Aggrey Fynn and Emmanuel Quarshie of 1965 and 1982 winning captains, both players were Hasaacas players.
It’s also worth sharing that the 1982 African Cup of Nations, the last time Black Stars lifted the AFCON title, that squad had 9 players from the Western Region, shared 3 and 6 between Sekondi Eleven Wise and Sekondi Hasaacas respectively.
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Edward Acquah, the former Eleven Wise forward who singularly battered England’s Blackpool 5 goals in a 5 all drawn game and pulled two stunning goals against UEFA Champions League’s most successful side, Real Madrid(in friendly matches Black Stars played in the 1960s) adds to the great talents the region has produced.
Kelvin Essien, John Ainoo, Stephen Baidoo, Augustine Arhinful, George Owu, George Blay are some among the tall list of players to have made significant impact from the late 90s up.
The emergence of several other clubs in the western region has contributed to a growing number of talents spread across the region.
The dynamics for scouting players and the game itself has changed immensely around the globe in today’s time.
Today’s world is a bit different from before. The game now sees many scouts scattered across the globe in search of talents to nurture and perhaps see them[players] blossom later on.
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Some do; others don’t.
Our contributors; Sports Journalists, Coaches from the region, football administrators have added their thoughts on this survey pulling across the top 10 footballers expected to hit their pinnacle in 2025 from a gathered list of almost 100 talents across all the second, first and Premier League teams in the Western Region.
These players could be up there in the year 2025, with the assumption that they could be at their peak within the time frame. Aside talents, players selected were suppose to be in the age bracket of 16 and 21.
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Note: This work is a mere prediction and there are some players out of the list that can emerge as the top players within the same time frame and perhaps do better than our list.
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Ebenezer Boadi Adu-Kwaw – Givova Football Club
Ebenezer Boadi Adu-Kwaw is easily the most sought-after attacker in the Western Region. His magnificent showing during his short loan spell at Division One League newbies, Skyy FC won him a lot of plaudits and made him a nationwide target for most of the topflight clubs.
Adu-Kwaw who’ll turn 19 years on August 3, 2020 sold a remarkable performance in the 2019 GFA’s Normalization Committee’s Special Tournament, blasting 12 goals in 15 matches for the Daboase-based side.
He’s earmarked as one of the ten talents the region experts as torchbearers before the year 2025.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV3tDO2QTqE]
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Raymond Kwofie – Samartex Football Club
Raymond Kwofie’s sumptuous pace on the flanks, his tricks and shot power make him a firm competitor in the list.
The Samartex SC attacker easily finds himself as one of our picks for his impeccable showing for the Timber Boys.
The 20-year-old impressed in the region’s invitational tournament where he helped Samartex SC to win the tournament, he’s been in a remarkable form with 4 goals to his credit in the Division One League.
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Ebenezer Mamatha – Skyy Football Club
Strength, pace and incredible power are but a few of the enormous accolades possessed by Ebenezer Mamatha. The 19-year-old made an effortless inclusion into the Skyy FC team and showed up well during the Western Region Invitational Tournament. He bagged 2 goals out of 3 games, a clear indication of what’s to come despite that being his first regional tournament.
His debut campaign in the Division One League saw him put across some fine effort scoring 5 goals in 11 games.
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Philip Flamini – Sekondi Hasaacas Football Club
Flamini is very difficult to disposes off the ball, best you have to foul him. He works tirelessly at either side of the flanks and serves nice in-swingers. He’ll easily fit into any formation which comes with a lot of pace, strength and power.
Flamini, 21, is among the list of young talents particular to the recent success of Sekondi Hasaacas Football Club with 3 assists and Man of the Match Award against BYF Academy out of 7 games to his credit before the suspension of the 2019/2020 Division One League.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFIt3A39m00]
6. Solomon Kojo Osae – Sekondi Eleven Wise Football Club
Solomon Kojo Osae oozes strength, dribbling speed and not easily dispossessed when with the ball. The Sekondi Eleven Wise forward is easily identified as above someone playing above his place in the league.
Osae, 16, is one for the future.
5. Baba Musah Amadu – Skyy Football Club
Musah Amadu, popularly known as Amando, will play his second loan spell with Skyy FC, originally owned by Dreams Football Club. He’s understandably one of the lads fancied to shine per his showing in the NC Special Competition.
The 18-year-old attacker led the Western Region team to win the regional U-15 tournament and has since been eyed to progress to the top.
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Nana Kofi Babil – Medeama Sporting Club
Nana Kofi Babil, perhaps the most gifted reader of the game from the bench. Babil, who turned 18 on January 4, 2002 promises nothing short of greatness in the near future, with his eye for goals, pace and skill.
The attacking midfielder has scored 4 goals in the suspended 2019/2020 Ghana Premier League from the bench and proves to be a likely hit in the years earmarked for him to shine.
Let’s keep an eye on him.
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Daniel Egyin – Sekondi Hasaacas Football Club
Daniel Egyin’s strength and pace which aid his overlapping runs from the left back position is remarkable. Egyin’s movement on the ball is remarkable, his height 184cm gives him the urge over adversaries.
The lanky defender turned 18 years on April 29 and has two goals to his credit as a left back in the suspended 2019/2020 Division One League. A fairly balanced dead ball ability.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkywcfc-Tbc]
2. Ebenezer Ackhabi – Medeama Sporting Club
Ebenezer Ackhabi, the second Medeama SC player to feature in our top 10 picks. Outstanding as well as hardworking, both in equal measure. A sumptuous tormentor in chief, serves nothing short of creativity even at his young age.
Ackhabi, 16-years-old has made a mark in the Ghana Premier League with two Man of the Match awards to his credit.
He validated his show of greatness when Medeama Sc hosted Karela United in the local encounter somewhere in March, secured that Player of the Match accolade in style.
Let’s watch him.
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Ibrahim Sanah Mohammed – Sekondi Hasaacas Football Club
Hasaacas’s Ibrahim Sanah is our final pick. The dead ball specialist and scorer of stunning goals has consistently proved to be above his peers. Mold in the shape of Man City’s Kelvin De Bruyne; an efficient passer of the ball, power and accurate shooter with both feet strong an ever-ready if commanded to hit the target.
He won himself a call-up to the Black Stars B team in 2019 after a stellar show in the GFA’s Normalization Committee’s Special Tournament, scored 5 goals in 11 games.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQg4v7F3ddk]
Note: This work is a mere prediction and there are some players out of the list that can emerge as the top players within the same time frame and perhaps do better than our list.
Huge thank you go for the sports broadcasters, coaches and club administrators that contributed.
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