Owusu contests Abedi Pele record claims

Ex-Ghana captain Kwesi Owusu has stirred controversy claiming he is the country's all-time top-scorer instead of legend Abedi Pele.

Abedi Pele is widely credited as the Black Stars leading scorer with 33 goals, although the Ghana FA is yet to confirm that.


But Ben Koufie, a former GFA chairman, recently said late striker Edward Acquah scored more goals than the three-time African Footballer of the Year.


Owusu, nicknamed Powerhouse, believes he is the country's leading marksman.


"How many goals did Abedi score and as for Edward Acquah he left the Black Stars before I came but he didn’t play many matches like I did," the ex-Bofoakwa striker told MTNFootball.com.


"I remember one newspaper reporter by name Ken Bediako who kept records of national team matches told me he had recorded about 140 goals.


"The problem is that during our time even if we are playing a competitive qualifier and it's not against Nigeria then less emphasis is placed on the game because everyone knows we will beat that country."

Owusu captained the Black Stars from 1972-76 in his international career which spanned for 11 years.


He played in Nations Cup finals and also featured in two Olympic Games.


Owusu added that: "This is a very poor record keeping by the country so anybody just cooks up anything and it becomes a record for himself.


"Those who dedicated their lives to achieve it are ignored."


Owusu scored five goals in the 1970 African Cup of Nations in Sudan, second best to Ivorian Lauren Pokou.