Elizabeth Addo is a former player of the Black Queens
Elizabeth Addo, better known as Ama Pelé, once commanded the midfield and attack for the Black Queens with the poise and brilliance of a true leader.
As captain, she was the team’s heartbeat, orchestrating play, scoring crucial goals, and delivering moments of magic that earned her comparisons to the legendary Pelé.
Her nickname, Ama Pelé, came from her early days in Accra, when at just four years old she was already playing with boys in neighborhood games.
That same skill would later define her professional career and make her one of Ghana’s most celebrated female footballers.
However, despite her leadership and influence, Addo faced a shocking setback in 2021 when she was reportedly blacklisted from the national team.
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The move came after she used her platform to advocate for better conditions for the Black Queens, calling for high-profile friendlies and improved preparation ahead of a crucial Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier against Nigeria.
Her tweet at the time read: “We saw Nigeria play last night and they gave a beautiful account of themselves. This is a team we play a crucial qualifier game with in a few months, and their prep is enviable. Black Queens need good international games to get ready. Please listen to us for once.”
Her outrage wasn’t well received by the Ghana Football Association, and Addo, who had initially been named in the squad for pre-tournament camping, was dropped when the final list was released.
The Ghana FA explained that her omission stemmed from how she expressed her concerns.
“I saw Elizabeth Addo’s tweet and I think we need to educate our sports men and women on terms of engagement. Imagine Henry Asante wakes up one morning and writes a distasteful comment about the organization you work with. It doesn’t work anywhere,” Henry Asante Twum revealed in 2021.
Being sidelined was a bitter pill for a player who had given so much to her country. Yet, instead of letting it define her, Ama Pelé turned her focus abroad, finding new opportunities to shine.
In the 2024/25 season with Riyadh Ladies in Saudi Arabia, she produced a remarkable 34 goals and 43 assists, including six hat-tricks, a display of her unrelenting talent and determination.
In September 2025, she joined Al Nahda Ladies FC, continuing her prolific form in the Saudi Women’s Division One.
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