Caleb Yirenkyi's rise has been incredible, says Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan

Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has showered praise on Caleb Yirenkyi following his eye-catching performance in Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Wales in an international friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on June 2.

The FC Nordsjaelland midfielder was one of the standout performers of the night, capping his display with Ghana’s only goal as the team continued its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Beyond the goal, Yirenkyi impressed with his composure on the ball, intelligent positioning and sharp involvement in Ghana’s attacking build-up play, earning plaudits for a mature performance well beyond his years.

Speaking to Citi Sports, Gyan described the youngster as a natural talent whose progress has been remarkable.

“He’s a natural talent, the way he’s rising is very incredible. Yesterday, everybody saw what he did, not only the goal, his positioning, his passing, the way he follows attack, and everything,” Gyan said.

The former Sunderland striker added that Yirenkyi’s influence extended far beyond the scoresheet, highlighting his awareness and all-round contribution to the team’s play.

In a light-hearted remark, Gyan also drew comparisons with former Black Stars defender Jonathan Mensah, noting that Ghana players wearing the number three shirt seem to have a knack for scoring.

“He’s not the only player to score a goal wearing the number 3 jersey; our very own Jonathan Mensah did it too. It looks like goals are in the number 3 jersey,” he added.

Meanwhile, Yirenkyi and his teammates have arrived in the United States to continue their final phase of preparations ahead of the tournament.

The Black Stars will face Jamaica on June 10 in their next warm-up match before heading into the 2026 World Cup, where they have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama.

Ghana, four-time African champions, will be aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since their historic quarter-final run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.