Breaking: 2009 U-20 World Cup winner Emmanuel Agyemang Badu retires from international football

The former Berekum Arsenal and Asante Kotoko prodigy played for U-23 and Black Stars before his retirement after 12 years with the National team.

The 30-year-old wants to focus on his club career after 78 appearances for the Black Stars.

Badu has been out of the Ghana national team for the past three years due to a decline in performance with his club football.

”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,” Badu disclosed.

”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 winning 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 received his first call-up to the Black Stars in May 2008, and earned his first cap on 8 June 2008 against Lesotho, netted his first goal against Congo in June 2011.

Badu played for the Local Black Stars in the maiden edition of African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Côte d’Ivoire 2009, where Ghana finished runners up.

After missing the 2010 FIFA World Cup through injury,  Agyemang Badu was selected in Ghana’s squad for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

By: Mohammed Bushran/@Bushran233