‘I'm ready if chance comes' – Joseph Anang is prepared to make Ghana debut as he impresses for St Pat's

The Irish Sun

3 days ago

JOSEPH Anang hopes exploits for an Irish club in Europe can help him play a role in getting an African country to North America.
St Pat's have not conceded a goal in 8½ hours of football since
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The 25-year-old joined St Pat's in 2024 from West Ham
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The Accra born goalkeeper has kept 11 clean sheets so far in the league this season
Anang was between the sticks for all but the FAI Cup win over UCC on Sunday and is bidding to keep his fifth consecutive clean sheet against Nomme Kalju at Richmond Park tonight.
A positive result would put them in the driving seat to
And Anang reckons performances in European competition are more likely to lead to further call-ups by Ghana ahead of next year's World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico following his first involvement in their squad in May.
The Saints No 1 said: 'The coaches focus more on players playing in big leagues or against decent opponents.
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'I think they are watching me playing in Europe more than in the league.'
Anang was an unused substitute for games against Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobago in the Unity Cup in London before flying back to line out for St Pat's
Capped by England at Under-20 level, he said being picked by the country of his birth only became realistic when he was getting regular football.
He said: 'The Ghana FA and I have been in contact since I was at West Ham but I wasn't playing back then so they couldn't really pull the trigger.
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'But for the past year, I've been playing, so in the last two months, that's why I was able to get a call-up.
'That was great, a great experience. That was my first call-up, so hopefully the first of many.'
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He was not surprised not to see any action in either international, but said: 'The first one, two or three times is to get a feel and see how it goes after.
'I didn't go into it thinking I might get a chance. But I'm ready if the chance comes.'
WORLD CUP BOUND?
Ghana are on course to qualify and sit top of their group, with five wins from six matches.
The 25-year-old added: 'It is very, very possible, because now we've got four games and I think we've got to win two to go through.'
Anang returned to St Pat's last summer having previously spent the first half of the 2022 season on loan at Richmond Park.
He then played a big part in their progression to the Conference League play-off round.
Repeating that will be tough because, whatever about overcoming Estonian opposition, defeating Besiktas or Shakhtar would be a tall order.
TWO TOUGH DRAWS
Alluding to being drawn against league champions Shelbourne in the FAI Cup, boss Stephen Kenny joked: 'I think the same person was doing them, they're two tough draws.
'People want a big one but I'm wanting the draw that gives us the best chance of progressing. Obviously, there is an incentive for both teams when they see the draw.
'Besiktas and Shakhtar are big names. There are institutions in their own countries. They have a great pedigree.'
That was backed up by Anang, who said: 'As footballers, you want to play against the big boys, so if that happens then we're ready to go.'
THERE'S A SECOND ROUND TO PLAY FIRST
But Kenny is reluctant to look past tonight's opponents whom he says are a step up from Hegelmann of Lithuania, whom they beat 3-0 on aggregate in the first round.
St Pat's head of academy Ian Bermingham watched them knock out Partizani Tirana in Albania last Thursday.
And gaffer Kenny said: 'Partizani are ranked higher than us so it was a big win in the second half of extra-time and they were full value for it over the two legs.
'They have a lot of energy, they're a very fit team and have some good attacking players. They finished second in their league last year. We'll have a really tough game.'
Saints' only absentees are Romal Palmer and Seán Hoare.