Ghana legend Abedi Pele wants Ben Koufie to take the plaudits for the country's three successive World Cup appearances.

The legendary Ghanaian claims the former Ghana FA boss should be hugely credited for the sharp rise of the West Africans on the global stage.

Ben Koufie is credited for pushing for the promotion of several members of the 2001 Ghana Under-20 squad who subsequently formed the nucleus of the Black Stars which qualified for the country's first ever World Cup in 2006.

The likes of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, John Pantsil, Derek Boateng, Razak Pimpong and George Owu starred for the four-time champions as the Africans shone in Germany.

And the three-time African footballer of the year, wants the veteran football administrator to take the plaudits for the rise of the team.

If Ghana has been to three World Cups, they also have to give great and a big thanks to Ben Kuofie because Ben Kuofie was the one, who started with all the Essiens, the Under-20s when they went to the finals in Argentina and then he pushed the Ghanaians that you need to use these young players in the next African Cup which happened in Mali in 2002, he told Accra- based Starr FM.

Nobody agreed with Ben Kuofie but when he did it, he took his time and he made it. After that, Ghana has not looked back. 2006 they qualified, 2010, 2014.

The Black Stars have advanced to the group stage of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers after a 2-0 win over lowly Comoros in Kumasi on Tuesday.