Ghana’s Alidu Seidu opens up about how football saved him from death

Ghanaian international Alidu Seidu has opened up about his challenging upbringing, revealing how football saved him from a life of crime and violence.

Born and raised in Kumasi, Seidu left Ghana in 2019 to join Ivorian club JMG Abidjan before moving to French side Clermont Foot in 2020. He later signed for Stade Rennais in January 2024.

In an interview with French media outfit, Ouest-France, the 24-year-old defender opened up about his past on the streets of Ghana where he engaged in theft, vandalism and small-time trafficking.

“We walked the streets with knives or machetes; I committed thefts, vandalism, and small-time trafficking,” Seidu admitted.

“My mother was always crying, and sometimes I ran away at night to avoid my father punishing me.”

With his life seemingly headed in the wrong direction, Seidu reveals that his uncle’s intervention led to him getting involved in football which ultimately proved to be life-changing.

“Fortunately, my uncle was there and pushed me towards football because he knew I had something. He always supported me, and football saved my life,” he said.

Seidu also recalled a life-threatening incident where he was hospitalized after being attacked with a machete, forcing him to have a different view of life.

“I lost a lot of blood; I couldn’t speak, and everyone thought I was going to die, It puts things into perspective” he told Ouest-France

He further stressed that “I’m still lucky to have become a professional player, to be here. I always try to turn the negative side into something positive; it’s in my character.”

Despite being sidelined from the Ghana national team since November 2024 due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, the defender has made 15 appearances for the Black Stars since his debut in June 2022, scoring one goal.