A photo taken of the Africa Ballon d’Or award won by Ghana legend Karim Abdul Razak has surfaced on the internet.
Abdul Razak is one of the very few Ghanaian players who have received the prestigious plaque known now as the African Best Player Award.
In a photo shared on Twitter spotted by Kingaziz.com, the award which is like the European Ballon d’Or is placed with Abdul Razak’s name prominently inscribed on the award.
In 1978, the Africa Cup of Nations winner defeated the Algerian Ali Bencheickh and Cameroon’s Thomas Nkono to win the coveted award.
It's called the African Ballon d'Or won by the #GoldenBoy🇬🇭 Karim Abdul Razak in 1978 awarded by #francefootball:
•AFCON Winner
•AFCON Best Player
•AFCON Tournament Team
•N. American Soccer League FA Cup
•African Footballer of the Yr.
•🇬🇭 Footballer of the Yr.#BallonDor pic.twitter.com/r17Q2Th7F3— Ghana Sports History (@GSportsHistory) November 30, 2021
The African Ballon d’Or was presented by French Football Magazine from 1970 and 1994. The event was to be discontinued after 1995, when the present Ballon d’Or was opened to players from across the world in 1995.
George Weah won the award in 1995. He is the only African winner of the European Ballon d’Or.
In addition, Ibrahim Sunday is the first Ghanaian player to be awarded the African Ballon d’Or after winning it in 1971. He beat goalkeeper Robert Mensah and Cameroon’s Francois Ndoumbe.
Abedi Pele was awarded the trophy three times in a row from 1991 until 1993. The Ghanaian player who has won the most accolades.
A few Ghanaian players have made it to the top in the past, with Samuel Kuffuor two times finishing second, and Michael Essien placing second in 2006 and third in 2007.
Abedi Pele’s son Andre Ayew placed third in both 2011 and 2015 as well.
Source: Kingaziz.com