Everyone loves a youth prodigy. Whether they've emerged from the lower leagues or battled their way up through a top club's academy, they force everyone to take notice. Abdul Aziz Issah caused heads to turn last season, but building on those performances this time around, everyone's necks are now aching.
Combining creative flair with the level of instinctive forward play of a striker, he's able to find space anywhere on the pitch. Dynamism and intelligent movement both on and off the ball make him impossible to read, but his influence in the final third stretches beyond setting up his teammates. In 5 CAF Confederation Cup appearances, the 18-year-old has scored 2 goals and has also netted 2 times and registered an assist in appearances in the Ghana Premier League.
But what exactly does the budding star bring to the Dreams midfield? Well, he is, without doubt, one of the most intelligent and classy operators in the country. Although not blessed with blistering pace or an imposing physique, Issah has learnt how to squeeze every drop of quality out of his game.
The Dreams FC midfield star is so gifted when in possession of the ball, that his touch and control is mesmerising. He is able to manoeuvre his way out of the tightest of spaces, utilising his neat footwork and silky skills to evade challenge after challenge, while all the time searching for the next pass to play. He's just got that glide.
Issah excels not only in technical skill, surpassing most of his opponents, but also in mental sharpness, akin to a snooker player who anticipates moves ahead of his rivals. Close him down with his back to goal, and you'll be lulled into believing you're holding the winning hand. But Issah has always got an ace hidden up his sleeve, ready to release himself with a clever backheel, a turn into and then out of trouble, or a ball around the corner performed from muscle memory alone.
Nicknamed the ‘Ghanaian Messi’, Issah often floats around the midfield, dropping deep to spring lightning counter-attacks against sterner opposition, or operates around the penalty area to pick the lock of the more stubborn adversaries.
And what has really pushed the teenager over the edge is his end product. Whereas plenty of these maverick-types drift in and out of games, Issah remains firmly at the heart of proceedings, demanding the ball to penetrate defences with a threaded pass in behind or over the top.
It goes without saying then, that his free-kicks and corners are equally as deadly. All in all, Issah is a joy to watch, a stereotypically glorious Ghanaian midfielder, with all the grace and ruthlessness of an assassin in a tuxedo.
With extrasensory vision, impeccable control, an exorbitant footballing IQ, and exceptional passing and dribbling, he is a dream offensively and would certainly be a good addition to Chris Hughton’s AFCON squad.
