Name: Edward Kobina Acquah
Nickname: "Mr. Sputnik", "a Otete Net (the Netbuster)"
Country:
GhanaClub: Real Republicans F.C.
Position: *CF, WF
Side: RF/RS
Age: 26-29 years (23/07/1935)
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 82 kg
Attack: 86
Defence: 31
Balance: 86
Stamina: 79
Top Speed: 68
Acceleration: 70
Response: 84
Agility: 70
Dribble Accuracy: 66
Dribble Speed: 68
Short Pass Accuracy: 66
Short Pass Speed: 70
Long Pass Accuracy: 63
Long Pass Speed: 72
Shot Accuracy: 87
Shot Power: 96
Shot Technique: 85
Free Kick Accuracy: 77
Curling: 63
Header: 84
Jump: 78
Technique: 71
Aggression: 93
Mentality: 79
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 71
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 5
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 6
Growth type: Early/Peak
CARDS:
P19 - Fox in the Box
S04 - PK Taker
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Positioning - Scoring - Penalties
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded
INFO:
Acquah was a centre-forward and occasionally right-winger. His career started in 1956 at Sekondi Eleven Wise. He transferred to Real Republicans in 1962 and played there until his early retirement in 1965. He capped for Ghana 41 times, scoring 45 goals, leading his team to win the 1963 Africa Cup of Nations by scoring 4 goals. He allegedly scored over 400 goals with his club career and also 166 international goals in 77 games. However, these statistics consider also friendly matches.
After starting his career as goalkeeper, he was initially deployed as right-winger but couldn't compete with the way more skillful Baba Yara. Therefore, he made the centre-forward position his own. He had a tall and powerful physique with big torso, muscular legs and abdomen. The 18-yard area was his home which he dominated despite his lack of technical qualities. He was a goal machine who could score from difficult angles and showed sense of timing, which contrasted the reasons why he was criticised. In fact, he was sluggish, slow, had mechanical movements and was uninteresting to watch. It took a while for fans to start liking him. Acquah was clumsy with his feet and hardly scored without first controlling the ball. He wasn't used to take the ball and get past the defenders due to his frame, lack of skills and past as goalkeeper. He wasn't a ball bearer or a daring dribbler. He always chose power over style, will over skill. But once he had stopped the ball and got into proper position, he would kick one of his fierce, sharp, brutal, unstoppable shots. He had dynamite in his boots, delivering shots effortlessly and with colossal power. For this reason, he was nicknamed "Mr. Sputnik" and "Net buster". He was a perfect finisher with instinct and a no-nonsense style. Once the ball was on his feet, everyone knew it was going in. And not only his shots were ruthless in active play, either from short or long distance, but also from penalty and free kick. He excelled at shooting, positioning and also heading. What's even more important is that he scored in many high-profile matches and competitions like the Africa Cup of Nations or the Olympics. When it mattered the most, he would put fighting spirit, energy, discipline and hard work at the service of his team.