From Belgium 'Reject' to Ghana: Meet Black Stars debutant Francis Amuzu

Grêmio winger Francis Amuzu has earned his maiden call-up to the Black Stars under head coach Carlos Queiroz ahead of the friendly game against Mexico on May 22, 2026.

Born on August 23, 1999, in Ghana, Amuzu moved to Belgium at an early age to begin his football career, featuring for youth teams such as SK Heffen, Mechelen, and JMG Academy Lier.

He signed his first professional contract with Anderlecht on August 23, 2015, and made his professional debut in a 1–0 Belgian First Division A win over Eupen.

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On September 20, 2018, Amuzu made his European competition debut in a UEFA Europa League match against Spartak Trnava. He reached his 50th Belgian Pro League appearance for Anderlecht on September 12, 2019, in a match against Sporting Charleroi.

On November 28, 2024, Amuzu scored a stunning late equalizer against FC Porto in a UEFA Europa League group-stage match, after coming on as a substitute for Samuel Edozie in the 60th minute. He finished his Anderlecht career with 28 goals and 24 assists in 250 official matches.

On February 10, 2025, Grêmio announced the signing of Amuzu on a permanent deal running until December 2026.

International Career

Amuzu was eligible to represent both Ghana and Belgium at international level, initially favoring Belgium. He featured for Belgium at youth level and scored on his under-21 debut, netting the winner in an October 2018 friendly against Italy.

In 2022, he fully committed to Belgium, hoping for regular call-ups to the senior team. However, those opportunities did not materialize as expected.

After reflecting on his career, Amuzu decided to switch allegiance to Ghana. His decision has now been rewarded, as coach Carlos Queiroz has given him the chance to prove himself in the international friendly against Mexico on May 22, 2026.

SB/JE

Meanwhile, watch highlights from 2026 3i Africa Summit Golf Tournament