Appiah named Among World Top 10

Football?s world governing body, FIFA, has named the captain of the Black Stars Stephen ?Tornado? Appiah among the best ten players in the world at the U-23 level.

This follows the first round, quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Olympic Football Tournament which has produced some magnificent games of football, charged with emotion, goals and suspense.

The list compiled by FIFA?s online mouthpiece FIFA.COM says it ?has compiled a list of those individuals who have stood out among their peers; 10 players among the many who have caught the eye over the past fortnight.?

Commenting on the performance of the Juventus midfielder at the tournament FIFA.COM added: ?Stephen Appiah's maturity, precise passing and excellent vision at the Olympic Football Tournament suggest a golden future on the international stage, as the 23-year-old led from the front in Ghana's first two games.

?In the opening match against Italy he left three defenders trailing in his wake in an extraordinary solo run to lay on the opening goal before blasting home his side's second himself.

?In the 2-1 victory over Paraguay he put up a blinding display 'in the hole' behind the strikers, instigating all his side's best attacking moves and surging forward to register the decisive goal in the closing phase.?

Ghana?s poor showing against Japan was however, the only dent on Appiah?s image at the tournament.

The other players named are: John Aloisi (Australia), Fredy Bareiro (Paraguay), Lee Chun-soo (Republic of Korea), Mohammed Emad (Iraq), Alberto Gilardino (Italy), Yoshito Okubo (Japan), Momo Sissoko (Mali), Farid Talhaoui (Morocco) and Carlos Tevez (Argentina)

Stephen Appiah (Ghana)

Stephen Appiah's maturity, precise passing and excellent vision at the Olympic Football Tournament suggest a golden future on the international stage, as the 23-year-old led from the front in Ghana's first two games. In the opening match against Italy he left three defenders trailing in his wake in an extraordinary solo run to lay on the opening goal before blasting home his side's second himself. In the 2-1 victory over Paraguay he put up a blinding display 'in the hole' behind the strikers, instigating all his side's best attacking moves and surging forward to register the decisive goal in the closing phase. However, he had an off day in the 1-0 defeat to Japan which saw the Ghanaians exit the Games.