Omanghana
Rising Ghanaian midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi announced himself on the international stage by scoring his first senior goal for the Black Stars in Ghana’s 1-1 draw against Wales in an international friendly at Cardiff City Stadium.
The 20-year-old FC Nordsjælland star, who developed through the renowned Right to Dream Academy, delivered a standout performance after coming off the bench and appeared set to inspire Ghana to a memorable victory before a late Welsh equalizer denied the visitors.
Yirenkyi Breaks the Deadlock
After a tightly contested and goalless first half, Yirenkyi made an immediate impact following his introduction.
The midfielder opened the scoring in the 65th minute when he reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area. His goal came after an impressive solo run from winger Ernest Nuamah, whose driving attack created the opportunity for the young midfielder to fire home the rebound.
The strike marked a significant milestone in Yirenkyi’s budding international career and gave Ghana a deserved lead against the European side.
First Goal of the Carlos Queiroz Era
Yirenkyi’s goal also etched his name into the history books as the first goal scored by the Black Stars under newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz.
The Portuguese tactician, who recently took charge of the national team, will take encouragement from the performances of several young players as Ghana continues preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Honouring the Legacy of Ghana’s No. 3 Shirt
The young midfielder attracted additional attention by wearing Ghana’s iconic number 3 jersey, a shirt long associated with one of the nation’s greatest footballers, former captain Asamoah Gyan.
The legendary striker, Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, acknowledged Yirenkyi’s achievement on social media and warmly welcomed him to the legacy of the famous jersey.
For many supporters, the moment symbolized the passing of the torch to a new generation of Black Stars talent.
Despite Ghana’s strong performance, victory slipped away in dramatic fashion.
Just as the Black Stars looked set to secure an impressive away win, Wales struck deep into stoppage time. Lewis Koumas found the equalizer in the third minute of added time, ensuring the friendly ended in a 1-1 draw.
The late goal denied Ghana a winning start under Queiroz but could not overshadow an encouraging display from the visitors.
Although the match ended level, Yirenkyi’s breakthrough performance further strengthened his growing reputation as one of Ghana’s most exciting young prospects.
Having already impressed at club level with FC Nordsjælland, the midfielder now appears poised to play an increasingly important role for the Black Stars as Ghana builds toward the future.
For Yirenkyi, his first international goal could be the beginning of a long and successful journey in the famous colors of Ghana.
Source: Omanghana
