Renowned novelist, Chimamanda Adichie has revealed she had a crush on Ghanaian professional footballer, Michael Essien. She stated that she was glued to watching Essien and the Black Stars team during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It was during that competition that she developed a special liking for the former Chelsea midfielder.
She said:
“I watched the game with my best friend, Uju, often shouting and then hugging each other when Ghana finally beat the United States.
“You know some of our boys started playing this game without shoes’, Uju said. ‘Our boys’ were, of course, the Ghanaians.
“A small consequence of that game was my developing a mild crush on the Ghanaian player, Michael Essien, as much for his looks as for his dexterity.
“But the larger and more important consequence was my realization that sports allowed us, black Africans, to address historical and political grievances in the most cathartic way.”