# Joel Kojo

Joel Kojo (Kyrgyz: Жоэл Кожо; Russian: Джоэл Коджо; born 21 August 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Persian Gulf Pro League club Esteghlal. Born in Ghana, he plays for the Kyrgyzstan national team.

## Club career
### Alay

Kojo finished the 2018 season as the club's and the league's top scorer with 26 goals.

### Dordoi Bishkek

On 11 January 2022, Dordoi Bishkek announced the signing of Kojo on a one-year contract.
Kojo finished the 2022 season as the club's top scorer, scoring 10 goals in the league and once in the Kyrgyzstan Super Cup. On 24 January 2023, Dordoi Bishkek announced the departure of Kojo following the expiration of his contract the previous November.

### Dinamo Samarqand

On 27 February 2023, Uzbekistan Super League club Dinamo Samarqand announced the signing of Kojo on a one-year contract.
On 29 March 2023, Kojo scored a hat-trick for Dinamo Samarqand in their 3–0 victory over Navbahor Namangan-2.

### Esteghlal

On 11 January 2025, Persian Gulf Pro League club Esteghlal announced the signing of Kojo. He scored his first goal for the club on 3 February during the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite match against Iraqi club Al Shorta in a 1–1 draw.

## International career

On 18 May 2023, Kojo was called up to the Kyrgyzstan national team for the first time as part of their 2023 CAFA Nations Cup squad. On 16 June 2023, Kojo made his debut for Kyrgyzstan, coming on as a 58th minute substitute for Atay Dzhumashev in a 5–1 defeat to Iran.
On 25 January 2024, Kojo scored the only goal for Kyrgyzstan in their 2023 AFC Asian Cup campaign in a 1–1 tie against Oman, a goal that directly killed off hopes of both his adopted country and Oman from advancing at the expense of Indonesia.
On 26 March 2024, Kojo scored his first international hat-trick during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Chinese Taipei in a 5–1 home win.

## Personal life

Born in Ghana, Kojo is a Ghanaian Muslim. He was naturalized by Kyrgyzstan and joined the Kyrgyzstan national team after competing in that country for a long time.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 3 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Alay | 2018 | Kyrgyz Premier League | 21 | 26 | | | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 16 |
| Alay | 2019 | Kyrgyz Premier League | 24 | 19 | | | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 19 |
| Alay | 2020 | Kyrgyz Premier League | 14 | 7 | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 7 |
| Alay | Total | Total | 59 | 41 | | | — | — | 8 | 1 | — | — | 67 | 52 |
| Dordoi Bishkek | 2021 | Kyrgyz Premier League | 13 | 4 | | | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 15 | 5 |
| Dordoi Bishkek | 2022 | Kyrgyz Premier League | 22 | 10 | | | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 10 |
| Dordoi Bishkek | Total | Total | 35 | 14 | | | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 15 |
| Dinamo Samarqand | 2023 | Uzbekistan Pro League | 17 | 11 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 15 |
| Dinamo Samarqand | 2024 | Uzbekistan Super League | 24 | 8 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 11 |
| Dinamo Samarqand | Total | Total | 41 | 19 | 9 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | 26 |
| Esteghlal | 2024–25 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 139 | 74 | 9 | 7 | — | — | 14 | 3 | — | — | 162 | 84 |
* ↑ Includes Kyrgyzstan Cup, Uzbekistan Cup
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in the AFC Cup
* ↑ Appearances and goals in the AFC Champions League Elite

### International

Statistics accurate as of match played 19 November 2024
Kyrgyzstan national team :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2023 | 9 | 2 |
| 2024 | 14 | 8 |
| Total | 23 | 10 |

#### International goals

    Scores and results list Kyrgyzstan's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 11 September 2023 | The Sevens Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Kuwait | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 11 September 2023 | The Sevens Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Kuwait | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 3. | 9 January 2024 | Al Egla Training Facility, Doha, Qatar | Vietnam | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 4. | 25 January 2024 | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Oman | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 5. | 26 March 2024 | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | Chinese Taipei | 1–0 | 5–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6. | 26 March 2024 | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | Chinese Taipei | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7. | 26 March 2024 | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | Chinese Taipei | 3–0 | 5–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8. | 10 September 2024 | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | Uzbekistan | 1–0 | 2–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9. | 19 November 2024 | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | Iran | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10. | 19 November 2024 | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | Iran | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours

Alay
* Kyrgyzstan Cup: 2020
* Kyrgyzstan Super Cup: 2018
Dordoi Bishkek
* Kyrgyz Premier League: 2021
* Kyrgyzstan Super Cup: 2021, 2022
Individual
* Kyrgyz Premier League top-goalscorer: 2018
* KFU Footballer of the year Awards: 2024