It seems strange to think that a teenager is having a resurgence in his football career, but that seems to be the case for Ghanaian wonderkid Abdul Fatawu Issahaku. After being dubbed one of the best African prospects of his generation, the attacker initially struggled to translate his talents to the European stage, with fans back home even questioning his competency for the national team. Since making his move to Leicester City at the beginning of the season, however, he is dispelling that narrative with his performances for the Foxes! In this exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma international writer Kamogelo Motecwane, the 19-year-old pulls the curtain back on finding his feet at the King Power Stadium, his recall to the national team, their upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hopes, and words from Ghana boss Chris Hughton.
Kamogelo Motecwane: Good afternoon, Abdul. How are you?
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku: Afternoon, I am good, and how are you, brother?
KM: Good, thanks! You've been playing your best football since signing for the Enzo Maresca-led Leicester City. How is he getting the best out of you?
AFI: It's all about how he wants us to play and how he plans our approach towards each game. There is always a reason why we win, and being in a winning team feels really good. Every day! Every time he (Maresca) wants you to improve and get better. After a game, or even before a game, during training, he always tells you what to do and always guides you towards it. He always talks to you, so you need to be ready and always show a lot of heart to get in (the team), and it's really amazing to play under him.
KM: You joined a team with a heavy African influence, featuring the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and Patson Daka. How have they helped you acclimatize to life in Leicester and has their presence helped you settle?
AFI: Yeah, you know, they have much more experience than me and I'm always ready to listen to them as they are always ready to correct me and make me better. I feel so happy to play with them and to be with them in the same team, because they are always helping me and it makes me very happy to have them as my teammates.
KM: You now seem to be fulfilling the potential many had envisaged for you after you won MVP at the U20 Afcon. However, this was not the case at the club where you made your first inroad into European football, Sporting CP. Why do you think it didn't happen for you in Lisbon?
AFI: I don't think it's a matter of it 'not working out' or something like that, it's just a matter of what the coach (Ruben Amorim) wants. It's about what he wants to do and how he plans his team. I think it was always good to join Sporting and it is also an amazing team, I will not lie about that. It was good and it's a nice team, but it's all about the coach and how he wants the team to play and the role he wants you to fulfil. I think, for now, this is how he wants it to be, so if he wants it in a particular way, then you have to listen and just focus on trying to get better.
KM: Oh, so you think you didn't fit into his plans?
AFI: Yeah, that's what I mean. It's about how he wants me to play in relation to how he wants the team to play. I think what he wants from me now is to go somewhere to play more minutes and get better.
KM: This lack of involvement with Sporting's first team will have affected your inclusion in subsequent Black Stars squads, a team you first broke into at just 17. How do you feel about the constant criticism you faced from Ghanaians in the past 18 months after being hailed as the next big thing only three years ago?
AFI: You know, I'm still young and this thing is just a normal thing. I feel like this is only the beginning and I think I still have many years ahead. This criticism doesn't really get to me because I am just a young boy coming up and I feel there will be more opportunities with the national team to come, so I haven't really felt any disappointment from missing out recently.
KM: Do you think people have perhaps placed unnecessary pressure on you as far as the national team is concerned, considering your age?
AFI: It's the national team, you know, it's a different thing, it's not like at club level. Even if you are five years old, they will expect more from you, so this pressure is a normal thing in the national team.
KM: Ha, ha, of course! We speak about your lack of involvement with the Black Stars. Was it a knock to your confidence when you were dropped to the U23 side that tried to qualify for the Olympics?
AFI: I was happy to be part of the U23s because the Olympics is a big tournament as well and I wanted to be part of the tournament because it's one of the best. It's just that we did not qualify, but I was happy to be there.
KM: That's all in the past now, and Chris Hughton recently recalled you to the national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Madagascar and Comoros. How did it feel to be back with the senior team, and what were the coach's words to you about getting back on a regular basis?
AFI: As I told you, I'm still young and Chris is a good coach who tries to make you better. I always speak to him, even though sometimes I'm not in the team, but he's always speaking to me. He watches my games, and he tells me things that will make me better. So, I know if I get more playing time and get good performances, I'm going to be in the team again. To get back is just a normal feeling because I've been there, so it's not a new thing to get back to the team. It was good to return because it was a nice feeling to see everybody again.
KM: Will you be heading to Afcon if called up, or are you more interested in further establishing yourself at Leicester?
AFI: It depends on the situation, you know. Both sides, for me, are going to be good, so I can't just say I have a particular one I want to choose. For me, I just want to play, so I just need to know where I will be playing. If they call me and I am going to play, why not? I am going to the tournament and if I stay here too, it's the same. Both sides are good for me.
KM: Great! You played with Dreams FC and Steadfast FC in Ghana, but what people may not know is that you were briefly at the Right to Dream academy, where the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana were. Why do you think you were not able to follow in the footsteps of some of your national teammates?
AFI: I think it's just about the timing. For me, I don't think it was because my performances weren't good enough, I just think it was something that wasn't meant to happen. Because after that, I left Right to Dream for a different academy, before ultimately going to Steadfast FC. I think it wasn't the place for me to get my career started.
KM: You've been fantastic for Leicester this season, but maybe it hasn't shown itself in goals and assists. In the next run of matches against Watford, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday, are you expecting to be more prolific?
AFI: Yeah, but sometimes it's not about me scoring. For me, it's all about the team winning. I'd like to score, but I think, for me, even if I play well and don't score, I'm okay. I want to score and I'm hoping to score in the next games, but even if I don't score and the team wins, that's what I want.
KM: It's been at the King Power where you've found the most success since arriving in Europe. As you are currently there on a loan deal, would you like to stay at Leicester permanently?
AFI: Yeah, Premier League is my dream league, so I'm hoping to play there and since arriving, Leicester has given me a different feeling. How the people here have been has given me more confidence to stay here. For me, I'd be happy to stay in Leicester because I know and believe in the team, that we will qualify for the Premier League, so I'll be happy to stay here.
KM: Thank you, and all the best for the rest of the season.
AFI: Thank you very much.
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