Left-back Ebenezer Annan, earning his inaugural call-up to the senior national team, marked his debut as a second-half substitute for the Black Stars in a hard-fought 2-1 defeat against Nigeria last Thursday.
Expressing his elation at receiving the call-up, Annan remarked, "I was very happy when I received the call-up. In my mind, I was like, finally they've noticed my performances."
Impressing head coach Otto Addo, Annan earned his first start in the subsequent international friendly against Uganda, where the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Annan's journey to the national team spotlight began with his move to Serbia Superliga club Novi Pazar from Bologna last summer, following a loan spell at Imolese in Serie D. His stellar performances earned him recognition as the best left-back in the first half of the Serbia Superliga last year.
Reflecting on his rapid ascent, Annan remarked, "When I joined Novi Pazar, my aim was to give my all. While I always believed I would play for the national team, I didn't expect it to happen so soon."
Despite initial nerves upon joining the national team camp as a new player, Annan found solace in the warm reception from his teammates. Under the guidance of the coach, he felt empowered to showcase his abilities.
"The communication among ourselves was great. You could talk to anyone, so I was happy that we were on the same page," Annan shared.
Making his debut against Nigeria, Annan embraced the opportunity to represent his country, entering the game earlier than expected. Despite the outcome, he received encouragement from the coach and relished the experience of wearing the national jersey for the first time.
Playing as a left wing-back, Annan demonstrated his versatility and commitment on the field, earning praise from the coach for his performance.
"Putting on the national jersey is one of the exciting moments in my career," concluded Annan, expressing gratitude for the milestone and eager anticipation for future opportunities to represent his country.
