We're ready: Clifford Aboagye primed for U.20 World Cup

Ghana midfielder Clifford Aboagye says the Black Satellites are ready to make a huge impact at the 2015 FIFA  World Youth Championships in New Zealand.

The 19-year-old was one of the stand-out players at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey two years ago, winning the adidas Bronze Ball award as he helped Ghana to a third-place finish.

Aboagye, who qualified for New Zealand with the Black Satellites after the team finished third at the CAF U-20 Championship in March, is confident that the African sides will impress Down Under.

'The level of play at the AYC was inspiring. The African game is growing. It is always a great feeling to see other teams you know, from the same continent and with players you have engaged with before, do well," Aboagye told fifa.com.

"I will be happy to see them progress in New Zealand. It would be a shame if this did not happen, because they have so many talented players. I believe they have what it takes to do well, and I am hoping they live up to my expectations for them."

Aboagye started his professional career with Accra-based club Inter Allies, but signed a contract with Italian Serie A side Udinese before the U-20 World Cup in Turkey. "Playing at the World Cup changed my life a whole lot. I had already signed for Udinese, but I got the whole world watching and Granada came calling afterwards. People were talking about me during the tournament. My game also got better, because I learned throughout the tournament from our opponents, from my team-mates and from other players.'

After the U-20 World Cup, Aboagye settled in at Spanish La Liga club Granada, starting out in the reserve side that features in the third tier of Spanish football.