Nelson Samuel Mensah (born 7 December 1973) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was the first African to play in Romania's top league.
Mensah was born on 7 December 1973 in Accra, Ghana. In the middle of the 1991âÂÂ92 season, he joined Dinamo BucureÃÂti, becoming one of the first foreign players and the first African to arrive in Romania after the 1989 Revolution. On 8 March 1992, he made his Divizia A debut when coach Florin Halagian sent him in the 85th minute to replace Gábor Gerstenmájer, netting a goal one minute later in a 4âÂÂ0 win over Petrolul PloieÃÂti. He finished the season with 12 appearances and two goals scored, as the club won the title undefeated. In the following season, Mensah helped them advance past Kuusysi Lahti in the first round of the 1992âÂÂ93 Champions League. Dinamo faced Olympique Marseille in the second round, where they drew 0âÂÂ0 in the first leg but lost the subsequent game with 2âÂÂ0, the French ultimately winning the competition. In the same season he scored three goals in three league victories against Rapid BucureÃÂti, Petrolul and Sportul StudenÃÂesc BucureÃÂti. Subsequently, Mensah joined Hapoel Tel Aviv, making 13 appearances and scoring once in the 1993âÂÂ94 Liga Leumit season.
Mensah played two games for Ghana's under-20 team in the 1993 World Youth Championship, and both were draws against Uruguay and Germany in the group stage.
Mensah debuted for Ghana in a 1âÂÂ0 victory against Nigeria during the 1991 CEDEAO Cup, scoring the goal. His second game was a friendly where he came as a substitute in a 2âÂÂ0 victory against Indonesia.
On 6 June 1993, Mensah was attacked following Dinamo's match against Progresul BucureÃÂti. After the game, while leaving the stadium, he was attacked by several players of Progresul, with Leonard Strizu and Cosmin OlÃÂroiu being the most aggressive. Subsequently, Mensah was hospitalized due to his injuries.
Dinamo BucureÃÂti