Abdul Fatawu Issahaku reveals how he was suddenly told he would start his first Black Stars game

Fri 03rd Jul, 2026 19:06

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku has opened up on the unforgettable moment he learned he would make his Black Stars debut, revealing he was left stunned after arriving in camp expecting only to observe Ghana's senior stars.

Issahaku made his Black Stars debut on October 9, 2021, starting in Ghana's crucial 3-1 FIFA World Cup qualifying win over Zimbabwe at the age of 17.

Handed a surprise start by Milovan Rajevac after impressing for Steadfast FC and winning the U-20 AFCON MVP award, he justified his selection with an energetic display.

The Leicester City winger said he never imagined he would be thrown straight into the team, only discovering the news after the Black Stars' final training session before the match.

"I was not even thinking of playing. I just thought I was coming to watch and learn for the future," he told the GFA.

"They said, 'Get ready, tomorrow you are playing.' I was so shocked.

"I called my family and my brother and told them they said I'm starting tomorrow. I was so shocked because I'd never been in that situation before."

The Ghana international also reflected on the surreal feeling of sharing a dressing room with players he had admired from afar.

"It was amazing seeing them because you only see them on TV. I used to be a ball boy when they played against Togo, so to now have the chance to play with them and spend time with them was just amazing."

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