Interview with Junior "Ga Mantse" Agogo

He made his Ghana debut in France when the Black Stars were preparing for the 2006 World Cup.

He never made the final squad though, but he’s kept on pushing. Gradually, he keeps finding his feet in the team and ahead of the African Cup of Nations, Nottingham Forest striker; Junior Agogo hopes to play his first major competition for country.

Ghanafa.org's Michael Boateng and Nana Obiri Yeboah caught up with the attacker for an exclusive interview after having played his first game on home grounds during the recent 4-nation tournament hosted in Accra.

Ghanafa.org: Junior, your first game on home soil, before the game, what were you anticipating?

Agogo: I did a lot not to try to anticipate really on a personal point of view but as a team collectively we just wanted to come and give a good account of ourselves considering the results Meteors had on Friday the whole nation was down so hopefully that would have built the spirits up.

Ghanafa.org: Did you enjoy yourself?

Agogo: Yes of course. I feel personally it took me a while to get into the game but when I did I was comfortable and I am happy that the boys got the win.

Ghanafa.org: You had such a pretty good at home for the first time what was running through you mind?

Agogo: Nothing really. I was just a bit nervous, just as you said it’s been a long time the Black Stars have played in front of the home fans and I am happy that they (fans) enjoyed it and we have done a good job as a team of ourselves.

Ghanafa.org: On a personal level how do you assess your contributions on the day?

Agogo: I feel I have done alright. I think there’s a bit more to come from me, like you said you get used to play with the same players at a time once you get to play with the same players at a time you will know what runs they will make and stuff. In a whole, I think I have done okay.

Ghanafa.org: Did the team feel any sought of pressure from the home fans looking at the crowd at the Ohene Djan stadium.

Agogo: No. there wasn’t any form of pressure because it was our first game at home for years, no pressure, but once the game started we knew we had to make the most out of it.

Ghanafa.org: Just some months to go to the Cup of Nations. Your performance for your club, Nottingham Forest, is going to count greatly as to whether you will be selected. How do you hope to stay in form and in contention for a place in the Black Stars?

Agogo: Like you said, all is to keep playing well for Nottingham Forest, keep scoring, keep playing and hopefully I will be called to play in the African Cup of Nations.

Ghanafa.org: What will be the Black Stars chances for the Cup of Nations?

Agogo: I think we’ve got a better chance than anyone because we are hosting the tournament ,I think we’ve got a better chance than anyone .

Ghanafa.org: And are we going to lift the cup?

Agogo: Hopefully, we will be lifting the cup.

Ghanafa.org: Do you have any personal target for the Cup of Nations?

Agogo: We just want to go out there and get our first win as quick as possible and we will see what will happen from there.

Ghanafa.org: You’ve played for Nottingham for a while now and in the English lower leagues, what do you hope to achieve after the African Cup of Nations?

Agogo: Like you said, hopefully I can get a move to play in one of the premier leagues. Any footballer’s ambition is to play in the highest level, a top level in his flight.

Ghanafa.org: Where would be your preferred destination?

Agogo: You will never know in football, one minute, you could be here the next minute you could be somewhere else so you will never know.