Opoku Nti
Encyclopedia
Samuel Opoku Nti is a former Ghana
ian football forward.
His nickname is "Zico", in honor of the Brazilian footballer and 1983 FIFA player of the year. In 1983 Opoku Nti, while playing for Asante Kotoko
, finished as runner-up for the prestigious France Football African Footballer of the Year award. The African Sportswriters Association named him Africa's best player, in the same year. This was the year that Opoku Nti's match-winning goal made Asante Kotoko win the Africa Clubs Championship by beating Egypt's Al-Ahly in the final at Kumasi. It was one of the most memorable goals in Ghana soccer. In the 16th minute of the cup final, a counter attack was initiated by Kotoko's right-back Ernest Apau. Strong midfielder "Butcher" Yahya Kassum continued the attack and sent a pass to speeding right winger John Smith Bannerman. Bannerman whisked past Al-Ahly's reliable left-back Rabi Yacin and floated a pass to the marauding Opoku Nti, who tapped the ball past a bewildered Al-Ahly goalkeeper Thabet into the net, sending the teeming Kotoko fans into frenzy of celebration.
In 1984 Opoku Nti moved to Swiss
champions Servette FC
. After spending just one season with the club and falling out with the coach, Nti moved to Ottmar Hitzfeld
's FC Aarau
, where he spent the next three seasons, before moving to another Swiss side FC Baden
.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian football forward.
Biography
He is generally considered to have been Ghana's top footballer in the early to mid 1980's; prior to the international advent of Abedi Pele. Opoku Nti featured in Ghana's victorious 1982 African cup winning side as well as the unsuccessful 1984 squad; which was eliminated in the 1st round of the competition. In the 1992 African Cup, he was controversially left on the substitutes bench for the majority of the tournament in favor of Mohammed Gargo, Stanley Aboraa and Nii Lamptey - all whom were considerably less experienced than Nti.His nickname is "Zico", in honor of the Brazilian footballer and 1983 FIFA player of the year. In 1983 Opoku Nti, while playing for Asante Kotoko
Asante Kotoko
Asante Kotoko Football Club, also known as Asante Kotoko, is one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in Ghana as well as being one of the more successful teams in Africa, having won twenty national league titles. They have also twice been champions of Africa. The club's home ground is...
, finished as runner-up for the prestigious France Football African Footballer of the Year award. The African Sportswriters Association named him Africa's best player, in the same year. This was the year that Opoku Nti's match-winning goal made Asante Kotoko win the Africa Clubs Championship by beating Egypt's Al-Ahly in the final at Kumasi. It was one of the most memorable goals in Ghana soccer. In the 16th minute of the cup final, a counter attack was initiated by Kotoko's right-back Ernest Apau. Strong midfielder "Butcher" Yahya Kassum continued the attack and sent a pass to speeding right winger John Smith Bannerman. Bannerman whisked past Al-Ahly's reliable left-back Rabi Yacin and floated a pass to the marauding Opoku Nti, who tapped the ball past a bewildered Al-Ahly goalkeeper Thabet into the net, sending the teeming Kotoko fans into frenzy of celebration.
In 1984 Opoku Nti moved to Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
champions Servette FC
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
. After spending just one season with the club and falling out with the coach, Nti moved to Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
's FC Aarau
FC Aarau
FC Aarau is a Swiss football club, based in Aarau. They play in the Swiss Challenge League.-History:FC Aarau was formed on 26 May 1902 by workers from a local brewery. The early days of the club were a success and they won the Swiss championship in 1911/12 and then again in 1913/14...
, where he spent the next three seasons, before moving to another Swiss side FC Baden
FC Baden
FC Baden is a Swiss football club based in Baden, Canton Aargau which is a short distance from Zürich. It was founded in 1897. FC Baden has a total of 22 different teams at age levels, including 5 women's teams. They currently play in the Swiss 1. Liga, the third tier of Swiss...
.