When Ghana arrived in Burkina Faso for the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations, the buzz was that the champions-in-waiting had landed. Coming off a disappointing performance at the 1996 AFCON in South Africa and bolstered by a squad featuring Abedi Ayew Pele, Sammy Kuffour, the emerging Odartey Lamptey, and Ibrahim Tanko, who was excelling with Borussia Dortmund, Ghana was touted as the sole favourite for the tournament.

However, to win the tournament, Ghana had to navigate the 'small matter' of Group B, which included Togo, Tunisia, and DR Congo. The Black Stars seemed to live up to the pre-tournament hype with a win over Tunisia and looked poised for qualification, with Togo set to be the next victim of a talent-laden Ghanaian side.

But against Togo, Ghana faced a less-fancied team whose goalposts were guarded by a man who had gained cult status in the Ghana Premier League due to his commanding performances for the dominant Ashgold team of the late '90s.

Nibombe Wake was his name, and he was the one who stood between Ghana and success at the 1998 AFCON, making that tournament a haunting memory for Ghanaians who were 'unfortunate' enough to witness the team's collapse.

Riding the momentum of a win over Tunisia in the first group game, Ghana was in high spirits and expected to overpower the Togolese side, but just four minutes into the game, Togo took the lead with a goal from Frank Dote.

What followed that early goal was a relentless onslaught of attacks from the Black Stars, with Abedi Pele and Peter Ofori Quaye leading the charge. However, no matter how hard Ghana tried to find an equalizer, Nibombe Wake repelled them. His goal seemed impenetrable, with Ghana struggling to score an equalizer, let alone a game-winner.

Sam Johnson, the towering center-back, managed to score an equalizer for Ghana, who had only seven minutes left to salvage their AFCON campaign, but Togo delivered a sucker punch with a late winner from Abdel Kader.

Nibombe was deservedly awarded the man of the match, but what followed was a significant shift in his relationship with Ghanaians, who went from seeing him as a Ghana Premier League hero to a man who used his exceptional goalkeeping skills to prevent Ghana from winning their fifth AFCON.

It wasn't entirely the fault of Nibombe and his Togolese teammates, as Ghana lost the final group game to DR Congo, but Ghanaians still held it against him, marking the end of his beautiful relationship with the country.

"That's where I showed Ghanaians that I am not God, but I am Nibombé Wake. Ghana in 1998 had great players like Abedi Pele, CK Akunnor, Sammy Kuffour, and others, and I showed them they were just boys to me," he said.

"That game was the match of divorce between Ghana and me. Fans were very angry with me when I returned. I had taken away a victory they desperately desired. When I returned to Obuasi, the reception was not good at all. How I managed to escape from Obuasi, only God and I know," as quoted by ace journalist Godfred Akoto on his godfred.substack.com portal.

Jerome Otchere, the former editor of Kotoko Express, still remembers the game: "He was a fantastic goalie. May he receive the help he's looking for in Jesus's name. That January 2010 attack was insane. The sight of him brings back memories of Burkina '98, though unpleasant as a Ghanaian. He singlehandedly stood between Ghana and a goal. Togo won 2-1. Super goalie."

Twenty-six years on, Nibombe, who has fallen on hard times due to the shooting of Togolese players by rebels in Angola during the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, is appealing to the former President of Ashgold, Sir Sam Jonah, for assistance.

EK