Ghanaian defender Jerome Opoku is keeping his sights on European qualification despite Istanbul Basaksehir enduring a tough season in the Turkish Super Lig.

The 26-year-old centre-back has been a key figure for Basaksehir, starting 24 league matches and registering two goals and two assists. However, his contributions haven’t been enough to lift the team higher than eighth place, a significant drop from their previous campaign.

Reflecting on the season’s challenges, Opoku admitted in an interview with Sportsblog247.com that things haven’t gone according to plan.

“We’ve had a pretty rough season so far compared to last season,” he acknowledged. “We played in the Conference League but failed to make it out of the league phase. We are out of the League Cup also and now in eighth place in the league.”

Despite these setbacks, Opoku remains optimistic about turning things around and securing a place in European competitions next season.

“The aim is to make Europe, so we work harder from now till the season ends to try and achieve it,” he said. “It’s going to be tough, but that’s what the game is all about, so we keep pushing.”

Opoku’s consistent performances at both club and international levels have drawn attention, and with Ghana chasing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the defender remains determined to maintain his form and help his teams reach their goals.