Asamoah Gyan hails Caleb Yirenkyi's football talent after standout display against Wales
Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has lauded Caleb Yirenkyi following the midfielder’s impressive performance in Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Wales in an international friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on June 2.
The FC Nordsjaelland youngster marked the occasion with Ghana’s only goal, delivering a composed and influential display as the team continued its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to Citi Sports, Gyan described the 20-year-old as a “natural talent,” praising the rapid progress of his development and his growing influence in the national team setup.
“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 stressed that Yirenkyi’s impact extended beyond his goal, highlighting his intelligence in build-up play and overall awareness on the pitch.
The former Sunderland striker also made a playful comparison with ex-Black Stars defender Jonathan Mensah, noting that both players have scored for Ghana while wearing the number three jersey.
“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.
Meanwhile, Yirenkyi and the Black Stars have arrived in the United States to continue their World Cup preparations, with another friendly against Jamaica scheduled for June 10.
Ghana, preparing for their fifth appearance at the global showpiece, have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia. Their campaign begins on June 17 against Panama, before facing England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
The four-time African champions will be aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since their historic quarter-final run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.