Jerry Afriyie: Meet the teenager billed to be Ghana's next football star

Jerry Afriyie has emerged as the most promising talent in the current Ghana U-20 team, assuming the role of a poster boy.

Afriyie is the face of the team due to his unmatched talent and great potential shown in the last two tournaments, the All African Games and WAFU Zone B.

The 17-year-old has been immense for the Satellites, leading them to win gold at the African Games and claim silver at the WAFU tournaments.

Astonishingly, he won the best player award at both tournaments while also emerging as the top scorer of the WAFU Championship.

He scored five goals in five games at the WAFU Championship to win the golden boot.

Jerry Afriyie is already showing signs of being a generational talent and was thus nominated for the Odartey Lamptey Future Star Award at the 2024 Ghana Football Awards after his standout performance in the African Games. However, he lost the award to his former teammate, Abdul Aziz Issah.

He is a modern-day forward who can play across all positions in the attack but prefers the false nine role, where he can utilize his mobility and combination play with the wingers and midfielders.

His best attributes are his athleticism, shooting power and technique, great runs, ball-carrying, and ultimately, an eye for goal.

He was born and bred in Afrisipakrom in the Tano North Constituency of the Ahafo Region. He currently plays for the lower-tier side Thoughts FC.

There is a firm belief that, with the right management and coordinated development, Ghana have on their hands a global football superstar.

EE/EK

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