Industrious Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has announced his retirement from the Ghana national team, FootballMadeInGhana.com can confirm.
His retirement follows a 3-year absence from the national team after he last played for the Black Stars in Gabon during the 2017 AFCON.
In an exclusive chat with footballmadeinghana.com, Badu expressed huge gratitude to Ghana for the opportunity to represent the national team and recalled his historic penalty that won Ghana the U20 World Cup in 2009 in Egypt.
Despite expressing his disappointment for not being able to guide the Black Stars to win the AFCON, he believes he played his heart out for the country.
“Although it’s been a while I’ve been out of the national team, I’m here today to say the nation has been very excellent to me throughout my career with the national team,” he said.
“On this day after talking to my family and loved ones, I think it’s time to officially retired from the national team.
“I’ve tried several times to win the AFCON for the nation after wining U20 AFCON and World Cup. We came close twice, but it’s a bit disappointing that we couldn’t win it.
“I, however, believe my colleagues who are now in the national team will do that for us in the coming years,” he added.
Badu thanked the Ghana FA, the government and all football loving Ghanaians for their support and pledged his support for football, availing himself to the football authorities for any role assigned.
“I say thank you to the GFA, Government of Ghana and all Ghanaians for your support during my tenure with the national team. I’m available if the nation needs me to help in any way,” he added.
Agyemang Badu has represented Ghana at the U20, U23 and at the senior levels.
On 22 May 2008, he received his first call-up to the Black Stars but had his first senior international appearance on June 8, 2008 against Lesotho and his first goal came against Congo in June 2011.
Badu after winning the 2009 U20 World Cup for Ghana represented country at five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and one FIFA World Cup.
