Which players have worn the iconic jersey in the last twenty years and who made it more popular?
For the past two decades, only four players have worn Ghana’s (Black Stars) jersey number 3 at a major tournament.
• Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour
• Louis Agyemang
• Asamoah Gyan
• Baffour Philimon
During the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, former Hearts of Oak midfielder Emmanuel Osei Kuffour was the one wearing jersey number 3 while Baffour Gyan was donning jersey number 17. However, after the tournament, Gyan took over the #3 and used it for several friendly games.
Baffour Gyan, who was a striker but wearing #3, made the jersey quite popular due to his breathtaking goal celebrations especially his break body celebration – something his junior brother Asamoah Gyan later learned.
Asamoah Gyan took over the jersey #3 from Baffour Gyan but during 2006 Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt, Gyan was ruled out due to injury so the jersey was handed over to former Hearts of Oak striker Louis Agyemang who was then playing for South African club Maritzburg United.
Asamoah Gyan later took over the jersey the same year – when Ghana played in its first-ever Fifa World Cup held in Germany and made name with it. He scored the country’s first-ever goal of the competition, missed the country’s first-ever penalty and also scored the fastest goal of the tournament.
Due to Gyan’s incredible goal celebrations at the tournament, something he learned from his senior brother Baffour Gyan, his jersey number became popular because only defenders, especially left-backs, used to wear jersey #3 years back.
Gyan further used the jersey at 2008 Afcon hosted by Ghana. He went on to use it at 2010 Afcon, 2010 Fifa World Cup, 2011 Afcon, 2013 Afcon, 2014 Fifa World Cup, 2015 Afcon, 2017 Afcon and 2019 Afcon held in Egypt.
Interestingly, for the first time since 2006, a defender will be using Ghana’s jersey number #3 at a major tournament after Dreams FC right-back Philimon Baffour took over since Asamoah Gyan was not named in the final 28-man squad to represent the country at the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon.
Ghana’s iconic jersey #3 has predominantly been worn by either Baffour (Gyan), Asamoah (Gyan) or Baffour (Philimon).
All the best to Team Ghana who will play their first game at the 2021 Afcon on Monday, January 10 against Morocco.