Ex-Ghana forward Nii Odartey Lamptey has confirmed the theft of his gold medal won at the 1991 U-17 World Cup in Italy.

The 38-year-old returned from a trip to Turkey only to realize his first ever medal in football has been stolen from his collection of laurels at his residence in Accra.

The former Anderlecht star who has since had sleepless nights since his gold medal went missing is appealing for its immediate return.

“I have a lot of people coming to my house so I have asked my wife and kids to ask their friends whether they are in possession of this precious medal,” he said.

“It is a medal so dear to my heart because it was my first and therefore I appeal to anyone who has it to please return it.

“I go to my trophy room at least once every week to check and polish them if need be and it was then I realized the medal was gone.

“I have had sleepless nights since and I could only hope this precious medal is returned to me,” he added.

Odartey Lamptey emerged the best player of the Black Starlets side that won that particular tournament 22 years ago.