I did not get enough opportunities in Europe - Abdul Fatawu Issahaku opens up on his early struggle

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku attributes his early struggles in European football to a lack of trust and belief from coaches at the start of his career.

The talented winger first gained recognition as the star player for the Black Satellites, leading Ghana to victory in the U-20 African Youth Championship. His outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Tournament accolade and contributed to Ghana's fourth youth continental trophy.

Following his success, the 20-year-old joined Dreams FC and later moved to Sporting CP in 2022. However, his time at Sporting Lisbon was challenging, as he was often relegated to the youth team, making only 12 appearances for the first team.

In August 2023, Issahaku transferred to Leicester City under the management of Enzo Maresca. Maresca brought him to the King Power Stadium to bolster the squad's efforts to secure Premier League promotion.

Under Maresca's guidance, Issahaku experienced a career resurgence, scoring 19 goals to help Leicester achieve their goal of returning to the Premier League.

Reflecting on his journey, Issahaku acknowledged that the lack of opportunities early in his career hindered his progress. However, the chance he received at Leicester allowed his talent to flourish.

“I think sometimes I don’t think it was bad but it was because the opportunity was not there but when I got the opportunity, I got more confident that was why it was more easier to put out what I got,” he said.

Issahaku also praised Maresca, now the manager of Chelsea, for his role in his development.

“I think it’s just the confidence he gave me on the field, how he guided me during the league and everything,” he added.

With Leicester securing Issahaku's services, the forward aims to replicate last season's form in the Premier League.