I wanted to win African Best Player award so badly - Abedi Ayew

Ghana legend Abedi Ayew Pele has disclosed that he wanted to win the African Best Player award so badly in the 1980s but his self-imposed break from the Black Stars prevented him.

Pele believes he was in his prime during that period from 1986-1990 but his absence from the national team affected him.

The 55-year-old, who is regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time achieved an unprecedented feat by winning the African Best Player award three times from 1991 to 1993.

"I wanted it so badly in the even in the 80s. In 88 and 89 I was on fire in France- destroying everybody but I never came to play for the national team. I also had some personal problems in the national team. From 1986-90 I never came to play for the national. I refused coming,'' he told GTV Sports Plus in an interview.

''You know this politics. It has its own things. They sent this man [I have forgotten his name] he was in Kotoko. He came to Marseille to see me and see all the executives of the team.

''So, they then told him they have allowed me-by that time we don't have this FIFA rule that you have to automatically play for the national team.''

On his decision to quit international football, he said, "I wanted to storm France. I wanted to have time, I was focused, I was determined, I needed it more. That was the only way to achieve it."