Afena Gyan: The Remarkable Journey a 19 Year Old From High School in Ghana to Becoming an European Champion

• Felix Afena-Gyan made history by becoming the youngest Ghanaian to win a European title following AS Roma’s Conference League success
• Two years ago, the AS Roma forward was just a high school going kid with dreams of playing football
• The 19-year-old’s fairytale journey recorded a new chapter as the story continues for the Ghanaian sensation

Just a little over a year, Felix Afena-Gyan had no idea he was going to be playing in Europe and as a matter of fact, Italy. But 18 months down the lane, he is a star at AS Roma.

While in Ghana, he was just a school going boy with a passion for football and enormous talent and like many kids in Berekum, life was fun.

Afena-Gyan, before he would be scouted for a trial in Europe attended Berekum Senor High School, where he is usually in the midst of friends, either playing football or dancing. In fact, he showed that bit of himself after Roma’s latest success.

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The boy born in Sunyani has risen to global stardom in 18 months and he is now a European champion, after AS Roma defeated Feyenoord to win the Europa Conference League.

When Afena-Gyan arrived in Italy

He had a trial with giants AC Milan, but Roma saw the potential in the teen sensation and immediately gazumped him from the noses of their rivals.

AS Roma signed him to their youth team and he showed enormous quality in the Primavera league.

He gradually built the reputation of a goalscoring machine, scoring a goal every sixty minutes for the youth team.

Jose Mourinho’s invite

His phenomenal performances saw Jose Mourinho pass by the youth team to watch him play and just after a game, he invited him to the senior side.

Jose

After three first-team games, Mourinho has refused to let the then 18-year-olf return to the youth team, insisting he is staying with the senior side.

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“I am sorry for Mister De Rossi and the Primavera squad, but Felix will stay with us. The Primavera work close to us, so Felix ,and another four or five players have come across to the senior squad,” said Mourinho as quoted by GHANASoccernet.com.

Becoming a European champion

Afena-Gyan missed the first half of the European season, because he was not registered and had not even signed a professional contract. However, after his top notch displays, the youngster made it into the team for the second round.

The 19-year-old made 3 appearances as the Italian giants reached the finals of competition. He was an unused substitute in a final that was settled with a Nicolo Zaniola goal.