Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu expresses concern about Ghana’s AFCON success drought
Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has expressed concern about Ghana’s AFCON success drought.
Badu has appeared the AFCON tournament with Ghana since 2010 and nearly lifted the trophy for the Black Stars in his maiden attempt in the tournament amid Ghana’s first time in 38 years.
The former Udinese star and his national team-mates was also beaten to the title in 2015 after Ghana lost 8-9 on penalties to neighbouring country Ivory Coast.
Thrice the Black Stars have come very closer to lifting the AFCON title after last becoming winners of Africa’s national elite competition in 1982 in Libya.
Agyemang Badu, 29, has now expressed concerns about Black Stars inability to win the AFCON in almost three decades.
“Sometimes you will need the luck to achieve your goal in football tournament but it becomes incomprehensible to me when I start thinking about why we are not winning the AFCON title” he said.
“But I believe we can win the AFCON trophy one day if we get our acts together,” he added.
Badu played in Ghana’s latest two finals loss against Egypt and Ivory Coast. He played all 90 minutes in 2010 finals against the Pharaohs but Mohamed Nagy (Gedo) stoppage time (85’) strike handed Egypt their third straight AFCON glory in Angola while Ghana’s wounds in major cup finals continued.
In 2015, Badu came on as a stoppage time sub for Asamoah Gyan (120+1) and converted his kick in the marathon penalty kicks.
Afriyie Acquah, Frank Acheampon and Razak Brimah missed kicks ensured Ghana lost to Ivory Coast on penalties for the second time in running between the two in AFCON finals.
Agyemang Badu appears one of the favorite midfielders to don the Black Stars shirt since breaking into the senior national team following his move from Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko to Recreativo in 2009.
Before walking into Milovan Rajevac’s Black Stars, Badu was part, and his last kick against Brazil in Egypt won the 2009 FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup for Black Satellite of Ghana.
