Former Black Stars defender Samuel Osei Kuffour was not sacked from the team’s camp during the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations(Afcon) in Mali because of breaking rules.
This, according to the 43-year-old, was falsehood initiated by the side’s handlers to conceal the awful treatment given to the men’s senior national team.
After Ghana’s first group game against Morocco, Kuffour was dismissed amid speculation that he had broken camp rules by sneaking out to a night club.
But speaking to GTV Sports Plus, the Bayern Munich legend revealed that he paid the undeserved price for speaking the truth.
“Nobody was able to tell them that what they were doing was wrong, and I was so glad that the late Ben Kofi apologized to me after the competition.
“When he was launching his book I was there and he told me he was sorry. At my mother’s funeral, he also apologized and said the way I was sacked from the camp was wrong.”
Kuffour continued:
“And they even said I went to the night club which was not true because there was no night club even at where we were staying.
“I never regret being bold because I was concerned that some of the players could even catch some serious disease.
“Black Stars were eating by the roadside, a chop bar, you can ask any player.
“Why did Michael Essien leave the camp and went back? Has anybody asked this question before? The players were not happy with the situation,” Kuffour concluded.
Ghana qualified to the quarter-finals, beating Burkina Faso 2-1 in their last group game. The Stars exited the tourney after losing 1-0 to Nigeria via Garba Lawal’s long drive.
