Two young Ghanaian footballers have earned global recognition after being ranked among the world’s best-performing U-20 players by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) Football Observatory.
Prince Amoako Junior and Caleb Yirenkyi both cracked the top five in their respective positions of players under the age of 20 outside the top five European leagues.
The teenage duo, who both play for Danish club FC Nordsjaelland, were singled out for their outstanding contributions early in the season.
Amoako Junior, just 18 years old, was rated the fourth-best forward worldwide among U-20 players competing in Europe’s non-big five leagues.
Top U2⃣0⃣ central midfielders, non-big-5 top divisions 🌍 @CIES_Football Index with @impect_official 🤩
🥇 #JovanSljivic 🇷🇸 76.5 out of 💯
🥈 #KeesSmit 🇳🇱 74.9
🥉 #NoahNartey 🇩🇰 72.9#Yirenkyi 🇬🇭 #Siltanen 🇫🇮 #Kostov 🇷🇸 #Medina 🇦🇷 #Diakite 🇨🇮 #Cavalcante 🇧🇷 #Novicic 🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/RVoMq7YEMA— CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) September 8, 2025
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His teammate, Yirenkyi, also claimed fourth spot among midfielders, highlighting the remarkable talent emerging from Ghana’s youth system.
Top U2⃣0⃣ forwards in non-big-5 top divisions, @CIES_Football Index with @impect_official 🤩
🥇 #KerimAlajbegovic 🇧🇦 79.4 out of 💯
🥈 #Rayan 🇧🇷 70.8
🥉 #LukaVrzic 🇭🇷 70.0#Amoako 🇬🇭 #Montoro 🇦🇷 #Andino 🇦🇷 #Kostic 🇲🇪 #Grgic 🇭🇷 #Owusu 🇬🇭 #Thorvaldsen 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/jMjNQJaJjy— CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) September 8, 2025
Amoako has enjoyed an eye-catching start to the campaign, netting three goals and providing one assist in only seven games.
Yirenkyi has been equally impressive, breaking into the Ghana Black Stars senior team while also chipping in one goal and two assists for his club.
More Ghanaian youngster make list
Both players are graduates of the famous Right to Dream Academy in Ghana, which continues to produce top-level talent for European football. Their rise has been rapid, and they are now seen as integral members of Nordsjaelland’s squad in the Danish Superliga.
Their performances have not gone unnoticed domestically either, with both players shortlisted for the Young Player of the Month award for August.
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The pair will compete against fellow Ghanaian Bismarck Edjeodji of Vejle Boldklub, as well as Thomas Jorgensen (Viborg), Clement Bischoff (formerly Brøndby, now Red Bull Salzburg), and Hjalte Bidstrup (Viborg), as first reported by Joy Sports.