Abedi Pele’s absence from the final match cost Ghana the 1992 AFCON title, says Odarti Lamptey

Former Ghanaian international Nii Odaruti Lamptey believes Abedi Pele’s absence from the 1992 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final cost the Black Stars the title.

Team captain Pele was suspended from the final for cumulative tickets after picking up an “unnecessary” card in the semi-final win against Nigeria.

In an interview with Sienne TV, Lamptey said he tried to ask the referee not to give Pele a red card, but to no avail.

“I ran up to the referee and begged him not to give Abedi Pele a red card.

I did, but the words he used probably made the referee get a little irritated and give him a second yellow card.

I think it was presented,” he said.

Lamptey believed Pele’s presence on the pitch would have made a decisive difference in the final, but in the end Ghana lost 11-10 to Ivory Coast in a marathon penalty shootout.

(Pele) is a player who has achieved everything and when he is on the pitch it's like three or four players after him go after it and take advantage of it, so the final will be us.

I knew it was going to be a war. '' I think so. In the end his absence cost us.

We should have won that cup,” he added.

The 1992 final is one of his three finals he has lost since 1982 when Ghana last won his AFCON.