Accra, Sep 3 (IANS): Ghana football legend Charles Kumi Gyamfi died here after battling a protracted illness, Xinhau news agency reported.

Gyamfi, 86, was the first African player to play in Germany when he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf football club in 1960.

As a coach, he won the Africa Cup of Nations three times with Ghana in 1963, 1965 and 1982, making him the most successful African national team coach, unequaled until Egypt's Hassan Shehata also won a third Nations Cup title in 2010.

Gyamfi was also part of the Gold Coast (Ghana) XI team that toured Britain in 1951, where Ghana lost eight of its 10 matches playing barefooted.

Gyamfi later played for both Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak, Ghana's biggest clubs, as a star player and captain.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has expressed its sadness over the death of the legendary Ghanaian coach and footballer whom it described as "talented footballer and coach".

"It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of the legendary Ghanaian coach and footballer Gyamfi. The GFA is immensely hurt by the loss of such a talented footballer and coach who shaped the lives and careers of many Ghanaian footballers."