Celebrated retired goalkeeper for Accra Hearts of Oak, Sammy Adjei says the Black Stars would have been World Cup winners if he had enjoyed the same level of support from teammates as he did at club level.
He noted that the support and encouragement he received from fellow goalkeepers James Nanor and Eben Dida at Hearts of Oak were instrumental in his career, and such backing could have transformed Ghana’s fortunes on the global stage.
Mr. Adjei played alongside Nanor and Dida at Hearts of Oak, with Nanor being his senior. Together, they were part of the famous Phobians side that dominated Ghanaian football and conquered the continent, winning multiple titles.
Explaining his belief, Sammy Adjei stressed that if he had their traits and support system in the national team, Ghana would have been crowned world champions.
“If I had James Nanor and Eben Dida in the Black Stars, I tell you, by now we would have won the FIFA World Cup. Yes, I’m telling you,” he told Darius Osei Ember on Angel TV, Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
He explained that his former teammates were not only colleagues but also counselors who guided him through challenges in his illustrious career at the Accra-based club.
“I remember during one Africa campaign, I suffered an elbow injury and confided in Eben Dida that I don’t think I could make it to an away game, but, he quickly told me, ‘Sammy, you are going.’
“Yes, because he knew that if I was part of the team, I would deliver irrespective of the injury I was nursing, whether my leg or whatever. Even if I had a bandaged leg, I could still help the team win matches.
“He never had any bad intentions toward me, waiting for me to get injured so he could get the opportunity. Instead, he still wanted me to be the first-choice goalkeeper.”
Adjei further recalled a remarkable incident during one of their trips outside Ghana with Accra Hearts of Oak.
“I recall one of our trips to either Congo or one of the neighboring countries. When we arrived, I developed a boil on my elbow which had grown very big, so I informed the coach that I couldn’t keep the post.
“But to my surprise, Dida burst the boil and bandaged it for me. I went ahead to guard the post, and we went on to win the match,” he revealed.
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