Abdul Fatawu Issahaku on surprise Black Stars call-up and confidence
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku says his first Black Stars call-up caught him completely off guard—he was not even thinking of playing for Ghana's senior team at the time. In a Citi TV interview covered by Ghana outlets, the Leicester City winger links that surprise to the same self-belief that fuels his long-range wonder strikes. The story matters because it shows how a teenage Division One forward became a Black Stars regular and one of Ghana's most talked-about talents abroad.
Key Takeaways
- Fatawu told GhanaWeb he was not even thinking of playing when he received his maiden Black Stars invitation after starring at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
- He said the call from the team manager felt beyond his imagination, and he asked twice to confirm the news was real.
- GhanaSoccernet reports he credits unwavering confidence—not outside approval—for his trademark long-range shots.
- Teammates sometimes criticise failed attempts, but Fatawu keeps shooting because he trusts his power.
- He describes himself as a proud mummy's boy who calls his mother before and after every match.
Why did Fatawu say he wasn't thinking of playing for Ghana?
According to GhanaWeb, Fatawu Issahaku opened up on how surreal his first Black Stars call-up felt. He was not even thinking of playing for the senior side when the invitation arrived.
At 17, the Steadfast FC forward had just helped Ghana win the U-20 AFCON in Mauritania, where he was named tournament MVP. Even with that breakthrough, he told reporters the step up was beyond what he imagined.
He received a late call-up from then-coach C.K. Akonnor alongside Ibrahim Danlad and Philemon Baffour from the Black Satellites. When the Black Stars team manager phoned, Fatawu said he asked again whether the news was certain.
"I was not expecting this at all," he said. "I'm surprised because I wasn't expecting, and I think I'm privileged to be part of the team." He added that he wanted to learn from his senior teammates and do what he knows best.
What did Fatawu tell Citi TV about his national team journey?
A Citi TV segment titled "From Surprise Call-Up to National Team: Fatawu Issahaku Speaks," published on Modern Ghana, revisits that unlikely path from youth prodigy to established Black Stars winger.
Fatawu has said that after the U-20 triumph he felt belief and confidence, yet still did not expect a senior call so soon given the quality already in the squad. When the phone rang, he told himself he was living his dream.
That arc—from disbelief in camp to starring for Leicester City and Ghana—helps explain why fans keep watching his interviews. For more rising-star coverage, see our Celebrity Breaking News section.
What drives Abdul Fatawu's long-range wonder strikes?
GhanaSoccernet reports that Fatawu ties his spectacular efforts from distance to self-belief rather than luck. "I know I have power," he said, "so I think it's just the confidence I give to myself, and I don't care about what people say."
Not every shot lands. He admitted teammates sometimes shout when an ambitious attempt goes wide, asking why he gave the ball away. He keeps trying anyway because he knows he can score that way—and when one flies in, the same voices celebrate.
"I always have the confidence because I know I can do it," he added, "so I always do it." That mindset mirrors the nerve he showed accepting a Black Stars jersey he never saw coming.
How does family keep Fatawu grounded?
Beyond the pitch, Fatawu calls himself a proud "mummy's boy." He phones his mother before and after games, and she does not hold back with feedback.
"If we lose a game, she'll call again," he said. "It's like, 'Oh, this guy should have scored.' She's the coach." Making her happy, he added, makes him even happier—another kind of confidence that started long before Leicester or the Black Stars.