Former Ghana defender Samuel Osei Kuffour says Michael Essien stood above all the players he shared the international stage with.
The former Bayern Munich centre-back represented Ghana alongside three-time African best player Abedi Pele, C.K Akonnor, Tony Yeboah and Tony Baffoe as well as Asamoah Gyan, but he insists the Chelsea legend was most exceptional.
“For me, [Michael] Essien is the best Ghanaian player I ever played with in the Black Stars," Kuffour told Metro TV.
“At the 2006 World Cup we (Ghana) believed that we could do something great and we had very good players like [Stephen] Appiah and Essien.
“Essien understands the game and makes it easier for his teammates whenever he is on the field. He is a really good player,” he added.
Essien, who is in the twilight of his career, was recently rejected by Romanian giants CFR Cluj over ‘old age’ after parting ways with Persib Bandung of Indonesia.
He boasts of 58 international appearances for Ghana, scoring nine goals.
