Samuel Inkoom is one of several players who have made a successful transition from Ghana’s U-20 world champion team to the ranks of the senior Black Stars. The Swiss-based defender played every match for Ghana at the recent CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola, where they surprised by reaching the final and pushing defending champions Egypt in a tight deciding game in Luanda before finishing as runners-up. Inkoom stepped in to showcase his talent in an injury hit side, proving a strong force in defence, mostly at full-back.

Just months earlier he had been one of the outstanding performers as the Black Satellites won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. He was among the players who successfully converted a penalty in a shoot-out against Brazil after the final in Cairo, to ensure Ghana would be the first African side to win the FIFA World Cup at that age level. He had also played in several of the senior side’s preliminaries as they easily won top place in their group and qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa.

Inkoom, now 20, hails from the coastal town of Sekondi, where he began his senior career at Sekondi Hasaacas. His potential saw him move within months to Asante Kotoko, at the start of 2008, and by the end of the year, he had won his first international cap in a friendly against Tunisia. In April last year he was signed by Basel on a three-year deal at a price of US$700,000. This was after he had helped Ghana’s U-20 team to success at the 2009 African Youth Championships in Rwanda. He has also played for Ghana at U-17 level, helping their side qualify for the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru, although he did not make the squad for the tournament.