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Ghana midfielder, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has disclosed the reason behind his retirement from international duties.
The 30-year old midfielder announced his retirement from the Black Stars few days ago after capping 78 matches for the Ghana senior male national team since his debut in 2008.[ads2]
He last had an invitation to the Black Stars in 2017 and since then has been struggling to return to the team again.
His retirement came as very shocking to some Ghanaians considering his current form at Italian Seria A outfit Hellas Verona this season.[ads3]
But speaking to Alfred Takyi Mensah on Onua TV, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu stated that he has retired from the Black Stars to concentrate on club career.
“From 2008 that I started playing for the Black Stars, I think now is the right time to retire and concentrate on club career”, he said.
“I have played in 5 AFCONs, won FIFA U-20 World Cup and Africa U-20 Championship, I have done enough for Ghana, there’s a an adage that a man only goes to a battlefield three times and I have went to five AFCONs, so I needed to quit and concentrate on club career”, he added[ads4]
Agyemang Badu believes his retirement from the Black Stars will pave way for the younger ones to get the opportunity to be with the senior national team and probably work harder to win a silverware for the country.
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu played for the Black Stars from 2008-2017, making 78 appearances and scoring 11 goals as a midfielder.
He was an integral member of the Black Stars team that finished second in both 2010 AFCON in Angola and 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.
Agyemang Badu was part of the Ghana squad that won the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt and the Africa Youth Championship in Rwanda.
He currently plays for Italian Serie A outfit Hellas Verona.[ads5]