Francis Amuzu

Francis Amuzu
Amuzu at Anderlecht in 2021
Personal information
Full name Francis Apelete Amuzu[1]
Date of birth (1999-08-23) 23 August 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Anderlecht
Number 7
Youth career
SK Heffen
Mechelen
0000–2015 JMG Academy Lier
2015–2017 Anderlecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017– Anderlecht 197 (25)
International career‡
2017–2018 Belgium U19 7 (2)
2018–2020 Belgium U21 14 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 June 2023

Francis Apelete Amuzu (born 23 August 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club Anderlecht. Born in Ghana, Amuzu represents Belgium internationally.

Professional career

Born in Ghana, Amuzu moved to Belgium at an early age and played for the youth teams of SK Heffen, Mechelen and JMG Academy Lier.[2] He signed his first professional contract on 23 August 2015 with R.S.C. Anderlecht for 3 years.[3] He made his professional debut for Anderlecht in a 1–0 Belgian First Division A win over K.A.S. Eupen on 22 December 2017, scoring his side's game-winning goal on his debut.[4] He pledged his international football to Belgium national team.[5]

On 20 September 2018, He made his debut in the European Competitions in a UEFA Europa League match against Spartak Trnava.[6]

He made his 50th league appearance for Anderlecht on 12 September 2019, in a Jupiler Pro League match against Sporting Charleroi.

He made his 100th league appearance for Anderlecht in a Jupiler Pro League match against Sint-Truidense V.V.

On 27 August 2023, Amuzu scored the winning goal in a Jupiler Pro League match against Sporting Charleroi. He then scored from outside the box a week later, in a 1-1 draw against K.R.C. Genk, on 3 September 2023.

On 7 October 2023, he scored in the match against KV Mechelen which honoured club icon Paul Van Himst on his 80th birthday.[7][8]

On 28 november 2024, Amuzu scored a stunning late equaliser against FC Porto in a UEFA Europa League league phase match, after he came on as a substitute for Samuel Edozie in the 60th minute. Amuzu was heavily praised by the Portuguese press after playing a good game. [9]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 December 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Anderlecht 2017–18 First Division A 11 1 0 0 0 0 11 1
2018–19 First Division A 30 1 1 0 4[b] 0 35 1
2019–20 First Division A 20 3 1 0 — 21 3
2020–21 First Division A 35 2 4 0 — 39 2
2021–22 First Division A 37 9 6 0 3 1 46 10
2022–23 First Division A 5 2 0 0 3 0 8 2
Career total 138 18 12 0 10 1 160 19
  1. ^ Includes the Belgian Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

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References

  1. ^ "Amuzu, Francis Apelete Amuzu - Footballer".
  2. ^ "Tedesco duwt Amuzu naar Ghana" [Tedesco pushes Amuzu to Ghana]. Voetbalbelgie.be (in Dutch). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Sensational Ghanaian teenager Francis Amuzu pens three-year Anderlecht professional contract". social_image.
  4. ^ "Anderlecht boekt glansloze overwinning dankzij debuterende Amuzu". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Anderlecht star Francis Amuzu picks Belgium over Ghana". Graphic Online. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Game report by UEFA".
  7. ^ "Kippenvel:Anderlecht viert 80e verjaardag van Paul Van Himst op indrukwekkende wijze" [Goosebumps: Anderlecht celebrates Paul Van Himst's 80th birthday in an impressive way]. Nieuwsblad.be (in Dutch). 7 October 2023.
  8. ^ ""Mooiste doelpunt uit mijn carrière":Amuzu zet met wereldgoal orgelpunt op feestavond in" [“The most beautiful goal of my career”: Amuzu caps off the celebration with a stunning goal.]. hln.be (in Dutch). 7 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Portugese pers met complimenten voor Anderlecht en Amuzu". voetbalprimeur (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 November 2024.