Asamoah Gyan, Ghana’s leading goal scorer of all time, has commended Abdul Fatawu Issahaku for his decision to sit out of the 2023 AFCON hosted in Cote D’Ivoire, calling it a pivotal moment in his football career.
Issahaku, who is currently serving on loan at Leicester in the 2023/24 season and played a key role in their Championship victory, is anticipated to be permanently signed by the Foxes, as per the agreed obligation to buy fee.
Upon his transfer to Sporting from Steadfast, Issahaku’s contract included a €60m release clause, reflecting his stellar performance in winning the best player award at the 2021 U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite his promising talent, he struggled to secure a consistent starting position under Ruben Amorim at Sporting.
Seeking more playing time, Issahaku made the move to Leicester, recommended by Martyn Glover, the head of recruitment under newly appointed Enzo Maresca, after the Foxes were relegated to the Championship.
The Ghanaian winger has been named Leicester City’s Young Player of the Season at the club’s end-of-season awards.
Issahaku scooped the award ahead of contenders like Zambia’s Patson Daka to crown a very impressive debut season with The Foxes in the English Championship.
The 20-year-old, who is on loan from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon has scored six goals and added 13 assists in 39 games.
Fatawu Issahaku’s impressive performances has grabbed the attention of Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer, Asamoah Gyan.
Gyan is confident that Fatawu possesses the necessary skills to excel at the highest level.
He spoke in an interview with the Host of the Halftime show Alexis Laura.
I think even when he was playing in the local league, there was one question, the person asked, who is the player I’ve seen in the local league?
I remember I said, I mentioned Fatawu’s name, he’s somebody who can be a very good model, he didn’t start so well for the senior national team, but he’s picking up, he’s a young boy and he’s picking up, look at what he’s doing in Leicester City.
For me, although we needed him in the national team, but for him not to come to the AFCON, I think it’s the best decision he made because he had to focus on his playing career to make sure he gets to the height, so I think Ghanaians had patience for him, although there was a bit of criticism.
Now, Leicester has qualified, after he’s coming to play for Ghana, I think the decision he made, I think he’s got the right people behind him who are advising him, and he’s a good player and everything will depend on him, to have a beautiful career or to get to the height, everything will depend on him, there might be advices and everything, but he’s the one on the field.