Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has tipped young midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi for a bright future after his impressive display in Ghana’s 1-1 draw against Wales in Cardiff.
The FC Nordsjaelland star announced himself on the international stage with a composed performance capped by his first goal for the Black Stars, helping Ghana secure a draw in their penultimate warm-up match ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Yirenkyi’s display drew widespread praise from supporters, but perhaps none more significant than from Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, Asamoah Gyan, who was left impressed by the youngster’s maturity and overall contribution.
Speaking to Citi Sports, Gyan described the midfielder as a natural talent whose rapid rise has not come as a surprise.
“He’s a natural talent, the way he’s rising is very incredible. Yesterday, everybody saw what he did, not only the goal, his positioning, his passing, the way he follows attack, and everything,” Gyan said.
The former Black Stars skipper believes Yirenkyi possesses the qualities needed to become a key player for the national team, praising his intelligence on and off the ball throughout the contest.
Gyan also made a light-hearted observation about the significance of Ghana’s number three jersey, recalling how former defender Jonathan Mensah also scored his first Black Stars goal while wearing the same shirt.
“He’s not the only player to score wearing the number three jersey. Jonathan Mensah did it too. It looks like goals are in the number three shirt,” Gyan joked.
The youngster’s emergence comes as a major boost for head coach Carlos Queiroz, who is looking to blend youthful energy with experience ahead of the World Cup in North America.
Yirenkyi and his teammates have since arrived in the United States, where preparations will continue with a friendly against Jamaica on June 10 before Ghana begin their Group L campaign against Panama, England and Croatia.