by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 21, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
London-born winger Charles Sagoe Jr has spoken openly about the possibility of committing his international future to Ghana, revealing that he is keeping his options open as his career continues to develop.
The highly rated youngster, who is of Ghanaian and Liberian heritage, previously turned down a call-up from Liberia during the October 2025 international break. Now plying his trade with Arsenal’s U21 side, Sagoe Jr is eligible to represent Ghana through his father, Liberia through his mother, and England by virtue of his birthplace.
Despite the growing interest, the former Swansea City loanee says he is in no rush to make a final decision on his international allegiance.
Speaking in an interview with GOAL, Sagoe Jr expressed gratitude for the recognition he has received from the countries he is eligible to represent.
“I’m always blessed to see recognition from the countries that I’m from,” he said. “Liberia is from my mum’s side, and I’m forever grateful for the support they’ve shown. It shows that what I’m doing is being noticed.”
The winger added that his focus remains firmly on improving his game rather than making an immediate international commitment.
“For now, I’m just going to keep working wherever I’m playing, perform to the highest level I can, and hopefully more opportunities will come from that,” he noted.
Sagoe Jr is yet to represent any nation at youth or senior level, leaving the door open for Ghana, Liberia or England as his international career unfolds. His comments are likely to attract attention from Ghanaian football fans eager to see another exciting young talent commit to the Black Stars in the future.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 21, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has backed Mohammed Kudus to reach the very top of world football, describing the Tottenham Hotspur attacker as a special talent whose best years are still ahead of him.
The Ghana legend believes Kudus’ steady rise in European football is far from complete and has urged fans to closely follow the progress of the Black Stars forward as his career continues to unfold.
Speaking during an interview with former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, Gyan highlighted Kudus’ quality, discipline and mentality, expressing confidence in his long-term influence for both club and country.
“Mohammed Kudus is doing well. I wish him all the best because he is a player who is still coming up, and people should really watch out for him,” Gyan said. “I always tell him to take good care of himself.”
Kudus has grown into a key figure for both Tottenham Hotspur and the Black Stars, despite facing early challenges following his move from West Ham United. The versatile attacker has scored two goals in 19 appearances for Spurs this season, operating across several attacking roles.
His displays have continued to showcase his technical quality, adaptability and confidence at the highest level of the Premier League.
Currently sidelined with an injury, Kudus is expected to remain out until April, which will rule him out of Ghana’s international friendly against Germany in March. However, the setback is not expected to affect his long-term international future.
The Spurs forward is still widely tipped to be included in Ghana’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Black Stars’ technical team confident he will return in time to play a crucial role.
Having represented Ghana at three FIFA World Cups, Gyan’s endorsement carries significant weight and reflects the growing belief within Ghanaian football circles that Mohammed Kudus has the talent and mindset to become one of Africa’s standout stars on the global stage.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 21, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
The January 2026 FIFA Men’s World Rankings have been significantly shaped by the conclusion of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with several African teams making notable gains and triggering a reshuffle among CONCACAF’s top sides.
Senegal emerged as the biggest climber in the latest rankings, surging seven places to 12th overall following an impressive AFCON campaign. Their rise had a direct impact on the United States and Mexico, who both slipped down the table to 15th and 16th respectively, representing a setback for two of CONCACAF’s traditional powerhouses.
Canada were also affected by the AFCON-driven changes. Jesse Marsch’s side dropped two places after Nigeria climbed to 26th and Algeria moved up two spots to 28th, pushing the Canadians down to 29th in the global standings.
At the summit of the rankings, Spain and Argentina retained their positions at the top, underlining their continued dominance on the international stage.
Looking ahead, the United States will not return to competitive action until March, with no fixtures scheduled before their international friendly matches against Belgium and Portugal later in the month.
Mexico, meanwhile, have lined up a busy preparation schedule under head coach Javier Aguirre. El Tri are set to face Panama on Thursday, travel to Bolivia on Sunday, and then host Iceland in Querétaro on February 25, as Aguirre fine-tunes his squad ahead of announcing his World Cup selections.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 21, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has dismissed reports suggesting renewed contact between the Black Stars and England-based players Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on the matter, GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum revealed that there have been no recent discussions with either player regarding a potential call-up to the senior national team.
“To my knowledge, I am not aware of Eddie Nketiah or Callum Hudson-Odoi approaching the Black Stars,” Asante Twum said. “What I know is that about four years ago, the coach reached out to them, but it did not materialise. As of now, Otto Addo has not informed me of any further engagements with them.”
Asante Twum emphasised that the Black Stars remain open to all eligible players who are active and performing well at their respective clubs, irrespective of where they play.
“Any player who is active and doing well is eligible to play for Ghana,” he added. “If the coach identifies a player he wants to invite, we will make the move. Where nationality switches are required, the GFA will initiate and properly manage the process.”
The clarification comes amid ongoing fan discussions about potential reinforcements for the Black Stars as preparations intensify for the 2026 World Cup, with the GFA reiterating that squad selections are strictly based on form and the head coach’s discretion.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 21, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has admitted that Ghana’s absence from the Africa Cup of Nations was a deeply painful experience, given the Black Stars’ rich pedigree in the competition.
Speaking on Kumasi-based Akoma FM, GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum said it was difficult to watch the tournament unfold without Ghana, a nation that has lifted the AFCON trophy four times.
“It was an unhappy moment watching the AFCON without Ghana, a four-time champion with a proud football history,” he stated.
Despite the disappointment, Asante Twum stressed that the recent struggles of the national team have served as important lessons for the football authorities and the technical team.
He explained that the setbacks experienced during the 2022 and 2025 periods have prompted deep reflection and a renewed approach to rebuilding the team.
“Even with the disappointments of 2022 and 2025, we have taken lessons from them and we are now fully focused on the World Cup,” he added.
According to Asante Twum, the immediate objective is to restore confidence, improve performances, and ensure the Black Stars return stronger on the global stage, with all attention now centered on World Cup qualification and preparation.
