The last few years have been tough for the Ghanaian national team. There are now a couple of positive signs for a better future. Otto Addo and his team are performing much better and could qualify for the World Cup next year, at the same time, there are some high-potential youth players who could have a great season. The future of Ghanaian football looks bright.
Ghana is one of the first countries that comes to people's minds when they are asked about the best national teams in Africa. Although the last major titles were a long time ago, the country has consistently produced strong players who can compete in the world's best leagues.
Players like André and Jordan Ayew, Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah, and especially Michael Essien are not forgotten and represent the former days of success and attractive football too. It was not just luck that brought the national teams into the round of 16 of the World Cup in 2006 or even the quarterfinals against Uruguay in 2010, which could have resulted in the semifinals if everything had been fair until the very end of the match.
The sun is shining again on Ghanaian football
Those former good days have gone now. In the last few years, there have been poor results in the World Cups and also Africa Cup of Nations. A couple of times, they were not even able to qualify for the round of 16, regardless of which tournament it actually was. Dark days for Ghanaian football overall.
Fortunately, those dark days could be over now. Otto Addo is in the lead of the team, and the success is back. For now, it looks good with the qualification for the World Cup next yea,r and the team is having some really promising players as well. Some of them could even have their absolute breakthrough in their clubs this season. Together with Florian Först from Kickfieber.de, an expert when it comes to youth players and scouting aspects, we came up with five talents you need to follow this season.
5. Caleb Yirenkyi (19, Central Midfield, FC Nordsjaelland)
The first player in our top 5 list is by far the most unknown player in this ranking. In February 2024, Yirenkyi joined the Danish club Nordsjaelland and therefore left the famous Right To Dream Academy in his homeland. Everyone believed in this step since Nordsjaelland is well-known for developing young players, especially from Africa.
In only a few weeks, Yirenkyi was able to establish himself in the youth teams and earned a chance to step up to the professionals only one season after he arrived in Denmark. This season could become his breakthrough season now.
He managed to become a regular starter at the club at the age of just 19 years and impressed people with his skill set. In the first matches of the new season, he could complete around 93 percent of his passes, most of his long balls were successful too, and he could already gain two direct assists as a central midfielder. Other than that, he is good at defending, but still has some room for improvement when it comes to tackling, on the ground and in the air, too.
His potential is very high, and maybe he already has a chance to make it to the World Cup next year. At the same time, it can already be expected that he’ll probably be able to take the next steps in his career next year, if his development continues like at the moment. He could become a comparable, cheap but exciting option for many clubs in Europe.
4. Jonas Adjetey (21, Center-back, FC Basel)
Another player with a potential breakthrough this season could be Jonas Adjetey. Since joining Basel in the summer of 2022, the still really young center-back has improved himself from season to season. Last campaign, he had already earned his spot in the starting eleven and was absolutely delivering with great performances.
This resulted in his first call-ups for the national team as well as in rumors about a transfer to Freiburg, Brentford, Real Betis, and even Manchester United. Even though United is having a hard time for some years, this can totally be seen as an appreciation for his development.
If Adjetey continues to play on this level or even improve his performances this season, it could be his last season in Switzerland. He would likely leave the club at the latest after the season, in that case, and it’s also likely that he would be in the squad for the World Cup too.
3. Issahaku Fatawu (21, Right Wing, Leicester City)
Our next player to watch has already had a really strong season in the English Championship and is already a well-known face of the national team as well. However, for now, he wasn’t able to show his skills and potential on the highest level like in the Premier League.
Of course, there is a simple explanation for this. Leicester overall struggled a lot to compete in the Premier League last season and has had some really hard times there. Simultaneously, the right-winger was only fit until match day eleven. After that, he missed the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury and therefore couldn’t help the team or prove himself in the league.
Now he is finally back and has become a starter in Leicester again immediately. The club has as high ambitions as he has and wants to get back to the Premier League directly. For Fatawu an injury-free and strong season would probably result in a potential World Cup nomination as well as a potential move to a better team in summer 2026. He has all the skills and potential to do that.
2. Ransford Königsdörffer (23, Striker, Hamburger SV)
Another interesting player for Otto Addo and the national team is Königsdörffer from Hamburg. In the past couple of years, he has developed continuously and became one of the best players of the second division in Germany last year. That’s why a departure and transfer to Nice was close, but finally collapsed.
Of course, such a situation can be difficult for a young player. Königsdörffer took it really professionally instead and was one of the reasons why Hamburg survived the first round of the German cup. His team and also himself played poorly, but in overtime, he scored the final and deciding goal for the club, and in the Bundesliga, he could be a strong weapon for the club as well.
The explanation for this is quite simple. In the Bundesliga, the club will most likely not become the team with higher possession, especially against the best teams in the league. In such games, you need at least one striker with a significant pace, and that’s why he could become crucial. Players like Königsdörffer, Dompé, Baldé, or Røssing-Lelesiit will be absolutely needed to create some nice counterattacks.
If they manage to do so, those players, and especially Königsdörffer could be the reason for staying up in the league in the end. At the same time, this would be more than an application for the World Cup, too.
1. Ibrahim Osman (20, Left-Wing, AJ Auxerre)
Our most promising talent for next season is definitely Ibrahim Osman. After well-thought-out last steps in Nordsjaelland and on loan at Feyenoord, he is playing on loan for Auxerre in France this year. It’s the biggest and strongest league he has ever played in, but Ligue 1 is one of the best leagues for young talent to prove themselves, and that’s why it’s potentially a great chance for him.
In his first match against Lorient he was already able to assist the winning goal and played more than 80 minutes in that match. Of course, there are still some parts of his game where he can definitely improve during the season, but with his qualities in progressive carries, successful take-ons, and progressive passes, as well as his pace, he could be ahead of his absolutely breakthrough season.
If that’s the case, he will be an absolute joy and more or less a need to watch. Following that, he could not only become a crucial part of the national team but also a strong contender at Brighton in summer 2026. Another example of great scouting from the Seagulls.
Note: Most of the stats are based on Sofascore and Fbref numbers.
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