Königsdörffer: “It’ll surely be an unforgettable experience”

While Hamburger SV are heading off to their winter training camp in Sotogrande tomorrow (Thursday, 4th January) and preparing for the second half of the season in southern Spain, one HSV star is getting ready for a big adventure far away from the rest of the team. Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer is taking part in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana. The 34th edition of the continental tournament will be held in the Ivory Coast from 13th January to 11th February.

Königsdörffer was born and raised in Berlin and learned his trade in the youth academy of capital club Hertha BSC via SC Minerva 93 and SC Charlottenburg, before finally getting his break in professional football with SG Dynamo Dresden. In 2021, he made three appearances for the Germany U20 and U21 sides, before switching to the Ghana Football Association in July 2022 to feature for his father’s homeland. “When they phoned me up, it was a quick decision to play for Ghana,” ‘Ransi’ remembers. “My father’s very proud that I’m playing for his home country. I’m also very thankful to have got this opportunity.”

"My father's very proud that I'm playing for his home country"

By his own admission, the 22-year-old winger was “a little surprised” that he will participate in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after just two international caps so far. His delight at being called up on New Year’s Day and the adventure ahead was therefore even bigger, according to Königsdörffer: “I’m very happy that I’m now with the national team at the Africa Cup of Nations. It’ll surely be an unforgettable experience.” In order to have a successful campaign, the Berlin-born man wants to give everything and impress as much as possible during preparations with the 27-man squad in Kumasi. The ‘Black Stars’, as the Ghana national side is nicknamed, will face Cabo Verde (14th January), Egypt (18th January) and Mozambique (22nd January) in Group B of the tournament in the Ivory Coast. Having failed to do so at the previous edition of the tournament in Cameroon in 2022, Königsdörffer and his team are looking to get past the group stage, qualify for the Round of 16 and make a splash in the knockout phases. Ghana have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times so far, most recently 42 years ago in 1982.