Where are they Now? The World Cup Winning Class of '09
It ranked amongst the most important spot kicks taken in Ghana football history. Expectation, Excitement, Anxiety; mixed feelings all around.
Someone forgot to remind Emmanuel Agyemang Badu of what exactly stood before him. The hopes of a nation; dreams of a continent, rested on this one penalty kick.
And yet he stroked the ball home with the calmness and panache the likes of which have been associated with legends of the game like Zidane and Andrea Pirlo.
Selas Tetteh had done the impossible; Andre Dede Ayew had led the team to conquer the world; Dominic Adiyiah had won the the golden boot.
More importantly, Ghana were champions of the World at the under 20 level, defeating Brazil in a pulsating final, one etched deep in the memory of many a Ghanaiain.
As is with world cup winning youth teams, the players of the Black Satellites of 2009 were tipped to take the world by storm in the near future.
Today October 16 marks exactly five years since history was made in Egypt 2009, and we take a look at how these stars who were touted for greatness after their feat, have fared since that night in Cairo:
Goalkeepers
Daniel Agyei: He didn't receive as many plaudits for the final as he deserved; he was instrumental in the victory as well, making a series of saves during the shootout to deny Brazil. He earned a call-up to the Black Stars for his effort and joined Free State Stars in South Africa in 2013.
Joseph Addo: Addo was the second choice goalkeeper for the Satellites in Egypt and was with Sekondi Hasaacas at the time. He finally left the club in 2011 and joined Kpando Hearts of Lions.Now firmly established in Kumasi as the top goalkeeper of Asante Kotoko
Robert Dabuo: Dabuo didn't get as much exposure as Agyei, unsurprisingly, and still plies his trade in the local league for Ashantigold. He spent 6 years at All Stars, that is between 2007 and 2013.
Defenders
Samuel Inkoom: After being clubless for a few months, Inkoom finally sealed a permanent transfer to the MLS and currently features regularly for DC United. This came after years of inconsistency with regards to game time and loan spells at various clubs.
Jonathan Mensah: Mensah has flourished into one of Ghana's most consistent defenders, and represented the nation at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He is a first team member of Evian in France and is highly rated amongst his colleagues. He looks to be a long term member of the team given his relatively young age.
David Addy: Addy made a move from Danish club Randers FC to FC Porto in February 2010, but could never fuly make his mark at the Portuguese club. After two loan spells, he joined Victoria SC on a permanent transfer and left for Waasland-Beveren earlier this year.
Daniel Opare: Even before the U-20 World Cup, Opare was one of the most highly rated players in the squad, and his status as a member of Real Madrid's Castilla justified it. He however left Madrid in 2010 and joined Standard Liege in Belgium where he spent four years. He recently joined FC Porto on a free transfer.
Ghandi Kassenu: Kassenu began his career with Liberty Professionals, and after a few years in Europe [2008-2012], he made a return to Ghana. He currently plays for Al Merrikh in Sudan.
John Benson: Benson signed for Qatari club Al Ahli right after the World Cup and has been at the club ever since, making just under 50 appearances to date.
Bright Addae: The 21-year old is currently on the books of FC Parma, who have sent him out on various loan spells in the past couple of seasons. He is on loan at AS Gubbrio in the Serie B.
Philip Boampong: Boampong transferred from Wa All Stars to Berekum Arsenal after the tournament, and then to Accra Hearts of Oak the season after. He spent the 2012/13 season on loan at Saudi club Al-Shoalah.
Midfielders
Rabiu Mohammed: The defensive midfielder has emerged as one of Ghana's most important players in the last few years. With Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari ageing, Rabiu has emerged as an able-bodied replacement in midfield. He plays his club football for Russian club Kuban Krasnodar.
Daniel Addo: Addo almost proved the villain in the final, after he was sent off, causing the Satellites to play for a long period with 10 men. Addo is now a free agent after ending his contract with Ukrainian side FC Zorya following the completion of a season-long loan deal with Kazakhstani side Kairat FC.
Emmanuel Agyemang Badu: The taker of the winning penalty secured a move to Italian club Udinese right after the tournament, and has been a regular at the club in the last few years. He was a core member of the Black Stars team in the 2012 African Cup of Nations and has been a regular member of the side since his first call up prior to the U-20 tournament.
Andre Dede Ayew: The World Cup winning captain has lived up to expectation, becoming a key member of Olympique Marseille's team in the last few years, after some loan stints. He current contract runs out next summer, with a host of clubs across Europe hot on his heels. Andre is also a regular starter in the Black Stars.
Gladson Awako: A few months after the tournament conlcuded, Awako secured a move to Recreativo de Huelva in Spain, but returned to Ghana and signed for Hearts of Lions only a year and a half later. He moved to Berekum Chelsea the season after, and currently plies his trade for TP Mazembe.
Opoku Agyemang: The 25-year old --who is a product of the Ashantigold Soccer Academy-- joined Levski Sofia in 2012 from Al-Sadd. In October 2012, he parted ways with Sofia, and currently plays for FK Partizan in Bulgaria.
Abeiku Quansah: One of the stars of the team, e winger currently represents El Gouna in the Egyptian league, after 3 years at French club Nice where he made only 9 appearances and a nightmare stint in Ukraine with Arsenal Kyiv.
Strikers
Dominic Adiyiah: Adiyiah --who took the tournament by storm-- was expected to be the next big thing. He however turned out to be the biggest disappointment of the squad. After staring in the tournament, he secured a move to Italian giants AC Milan. He failed to make any impact of note, with the likes of Inzaghi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the first team. After failed loan stints and a short spell at Arsenal Kyiv, he now plays his football for FC Atyrau in Kazakhstan.
Ransford Osei: Adiyiah's strike partner, and another who was expected to produce the goods before and after the tournament. He never lived up to expectation, with his career reflecting failed loan stints at FC Twente and Granada. He finally decided to return home to play for Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 2012.
Latif Salifu: Salifu's career did not skyrocket like that of the other strikers in the squad, and currently plays for FC Berekum in the domestic league. He has been injured for the past year.