Ghana football icon Asamoah Gyan has lauded emerging midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi after the youngster delivered a standout performance in the Black Stars’ 1-1 international friendly draw against Wales in Cardiff.
The FC Nordsjaelland star continued his rapid ascent on the international stage by scoring Ghana’s equaliser in a match that formed part of the team’s build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, it was not just his goal that caught the eye.
Throughout the contest, Yirenkyi showcased remarkable maturity, dictating play with confidence, linking attacks effectively and displaying excellent positional awareness. His composed showing in midfield earned widespread admiration from supporters and pundits alike.
Among those most impressed was former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan, who believes the midfielder’s development has been nothing short of extraordinary.
“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.
Gyan noted that Yirenkyi’s contribution went far beyond finding the back of the net, highlighting the youngster’s intelligence and ability to influence different phases of the game.
❤️ A moment of gratitude from Caleb Yirenkyi after his first goal for Ghana ☝🏾🇬🇭#BlackStars pic.twitter.com/mEIsR1Vdzu
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) June 3, 2026
The all-time leading scorer for the Black Stars also jokingly pointed to a curious trend involving Ghana’s number three jersey, suggesting the shirt may carry a goalscoring touch.
“He’s not the only player to score a goal wearing the number 3 jersey; our very own Jonathan Mensah did it too. It looks like goals are in the number 3 jersey,” he added.
Following the encouraging result in Wales, Yirenkyi and the rest of the Ghana squad have now shifted their focus to the United States, where they are undertaking the final stage of preparations before the World Cup kicks off.
The Black Stars are scheduled to take on Jamaica on June 10 in another preparatory fixture, offering head coach Carlos Queiroz a final opportunity to assess his squad before the tournament begins.
📷 Caleb Yirenkyi 👊🏾#BlackStars pic.twitter.com/EOsS4TLelH
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) May 27, 2026
Ghana face a stern challenge in Group L, where they have been drawn alongside England, Croatia and Panama. The four- time African champions will be eager to make a deep run and surpass the group stage, something they have not achieved since their memorable quarter-final appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
With performances such as the one against Wales, Yirenkyi is increasingly emerging as one of the players capable of inspiring Ghana’s ambitions on football’s biggest stage.
