Emmanuel Agyemang Badu retires from national team duties

Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has retired from international football, a statement from the player has stated.

Badu made this revelation after a three-year absence from national duties.

The former Udinese midfielder, who currently plays club football for Italian Serie A side, Hellas Verona, made his Black Stars debut in 2008 and went on to represent the country 78 more times, scoring 11 goals in the process.

He became a mainstay in the Black Stars, after excelling at the 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup in Egypt. Agyemang-Badu scored the winning penalty as Ghana beat Brazil to become the first African country to win the youth competition.

Badu was part of the Black Star team that represented Ghana at the 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

“All though it has been a while since 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 and on this day after talking to my family and loved ones, I think it’s time to officially bring my national team career to an end,” Badu said in a statement.

“I tried several times to win an Afcon for the nation after winning the under 20 African Cup and World Cup but we only came close twice.

“I’m a bit disappointed but I know my colleagues will do that for us in the coming years.

“I’m available if the nation needs me to help in any way. Thank you Ghana and may God bless us all,” the statement concluded.

Badu, 30, last played for the national team in AFCON 2017.