Ghanaian football icon and triple Olympian Reverend Osei Kofi has expressed heartfelt disappointment over the lack of national recognition for his immense contributions to Ghana’s football history.

Speaking in a recent interview with Sportsblog247.com, the former Black Stars forward reflected on his legacy and questioned whether he will ever receive the kind of honor that clubs like Real Madrid have bestowed upon their legends.

“Real Madrid honoured me with a match at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. They made me feel like a legend,” Osei Kofi shared. “I asked myself, ‘When will I be honoured with a stadium in Ghana?’”

Osei Kofi was a pivotal figure in Ghana’s golden era of football, playing an instrumental role in the country’s Africa Cup of Nations triumphs in 1963 and 1965, and contributing to the 1982 title as well. He was the joint top scorer in the 1965 tournament and finished as the third-highest scorer in the 1968 edition, cementing his place among Africa’s greats.

Despite his achievements, the three-time Ghana Premier League winner believes that legends like himself deserve more formal recognition at home — not just abroad.

His recent recognition by Spanish giants Real Madrid, who celebrated him as one of Africa’s football legends, was a touching gesture that reminded him of what could be done locally to inspire future generations.

“As a country, we must celebrate our heroes while they are still alive,” he added. “It’s not just about me — it’s about every player who wore the Ghana jersey with pride and brought glory to the nation.”