Lee Addy made his debut for Ghana as part of a domestic-based side that went to Argentina last September and such was the impression he made that it quickly propelled him towards more regular call-ups thereafter. The full-back, who plays in Ghana’s premier league for Berchem Chelsea, came into contention late for Ghana’s squad for the 2010 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola but when presented with his chance he took it with both feet. Addy was among several changes introduced by coach Milovan Rajevac after the Ghanaians had been outwitted by Côte d'Ivoire in their opening group game in Cabinda. The Black Stars lost the match 3-1 and were on the brink of early elimination.
Addy was competing in just his fourth international when he was brought in for the second group match, and subsequent win, over Burkina Faso, and he stayed on in the starting line-up through victories over Angola in the quarter-final and Nigeria in the semi-final, before also playing a full 90 minutes in the deciding game in Luanda against Egypt. His performance all-but guaranteed a place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals in South Africa, even if he played just 11 minutes in the qualifying competition, coming on as late substitute in the last group match against Mali in Kumasi last November for just his second cap.
Addy was named the best defender in the Ghana Premier League last year and he will be hoping his new-found international profile could soon earn him a move to Europe. By west African standards he is a late bloomer, although he has already had a brief stint overseas, playing in Lebanon at Tripoli SC in the 2007 season. Last year he was also linked with a move to Ghana’s glamour club Hearts of Oak but this fell through.
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