Black Stars skipper, John Mensah has turned 39 years today.
He is regarded as one of Ghana’s greatest center backs, although he was not able to lead the country’s team to win a long-awaited trophy.
He is popularly know as the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’,he started representing Ghana at the under-20 level when he was included in the squad for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina.
Back then at the tournament, John Mensah scored in extra time against Brazil in the quarter-finals to qualify Ghana to the semi finals.
The Satellites subsequently beat Egypt but lost to Argentina in the final.At 19 years, the former Stade Rennes captain made his senior debut for the Black Stars in a friendly game against Algeria in 2001. Head coach Fred Osam Doduo included Mensah in his squad for the 2022 AFCON Cup of Nations which turned out to be his first senior tournament for Ghana. He played four times in the tournament.
John Mensah was a member of the Black Stars squad that finished third in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
He’s biggest achievement as the captain of Ghana also came in 2010, when the Black Stars became the third African country to reach the quarter-finals of the World under the leadership of the former Olympic Lyon defender.
Ghana suffered a 4-2 defeat on penalties to Uruguay in the last-8 at the World Cup in South Africa. Unfortunately, Mensah missed one of Ghana’s penalties.
John Mensah retired from national team football in 2012 after Ghana’ one-all draw with China in an international friendly match.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
