Aziz Ansah, Paintsil, Afful: Ranking Ghana’s best-ever right-backs

Ghana has produced several outstanding right-backs whose contributions to the Black Stars and club football have earned them recognition across different generations.

From the defensive discipline of Harrison Afful and the attacking prowess of Aziz Ansah to the attacking energy of John Paintsil and Samuel Inkoom, the country has had players who have brought different qualities to the position.

Ranking them, however, is no straightforward task, with longevity, consistency, international achievements and individual ability all providing different measures of greatness.

Here is a ranking of six players who deserve consideration in the debate.

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1. Frank Amankwah

Amankwah has a strong case for the top spot. The former Asante Kotoko defender was part of Ghana’s bronze-medal-winning team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and represented the Black Stars at the 1994 and 1996 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

He also played professionally in Germany, the Netherlands, and Greece. His inclusion in the 1994 AFCON Team of the Tournament underlines his standing during that era.

2. John Paintsil

Paintsil brought energy, aggression and international experience to the position. He represented Ghana at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, becoming a familiar figure during the Black Stars’ rise on the world stage. His experience in English football further strengthened his reputation.

Aziz Ansah

Aziz earned recognition for his defensive qualities and versatility. He initially played as a midfielder before being converted into a right-back, demonstrating his ability to adapt to the demands of the position. His career deserves to be assessed separately from that of Harrison Afful.

Aziz Ansah, Paintsil, Afful: Ranking Ghana’s best-ever right-backs

4. Harrison Afful

Afful established himself as a dependable full-back for Ghana, representing the Black Stars between 2008 and 2018. He also enjoyed success with Espérance de Tunis, winning the CAF Champions League in 2011.

Samuel Inkoom

Inkoom offered pace, attacking intent, and the willingness to support forward moves. He represented Ghana at the 2010 World Cup, where the Black Stars' journey ended brutally in the quarter-final. His club career included spells with Asante Kotoko and FC Basel.

George Blay

Blay was another accomplished right-back who played for Ghana between 2000 and 2002. His European career included spells with Standard Liège, La Louvière and Dinamo București, with whom he won the Romanian league title in 2007.

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