Jerry Afriyie Displays Commitment to Black Satellites as CD Lugo Grants Limited Release for U-20 AFCON
Promising Ghanaian forward Jerry Afriyie has demonstrated remarkable commitment to national duty after earning a partial release from Spanish club CD Lugo to represent Ghana at the upcoming 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
Afriyie, who has already earned caps with the senior Black Stars, is among the key foreign-based players invited by Black Satellites head coach Desmond Ofei to bolster Ghana’s U-20 squad for the tournament.
Despite reluctance from his club due to the ongoing Spanish football season, CD Lugo confirmed on Wednesday, April 30, that Afriyie will be permitted to feature in the opening two group matches of the AFCON tournament.
“Club Deportivo Lugo announces that its player Jerry Afriyie has been called up to the Ghana U-20 national team for the matches corresponding to the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations being held these days in Egypt,” the club said in an official statement.
“After expressing his desire to be part of his country’s squad, the Club has authorized the Albivermello forward to travel to Egypt to join his national team’s training camp.”
Afriyie, who has been named by CAF as one of the top five rising stars to watch at this year’s tournament, is scheduled to play in Ghana’s first two Group C matches—against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, May 2, and Senegal on Monday, May 5. The player will return to Spain on May 7.
Afriyie’s dedication to donning the national colours despite club constraints has been praised by fans and officials alike, as the Black Satellites aim to rekindle their dominance on the African youth football stage.
