Hellas Verona midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has announced his retirement from international football aged 30.
In a statement, Agyemang-Badu said he arrived at the decision after extensive consultations with his family and loved ones.
"On this day, after extensive consultation with my family and love ones. I have come to the decision that the time is ripe to officially hang my boots and retire from international football," Agyemang Badu said in a statement.
"One of my biggest dreams throughout my footballing career was to help my motherland end our AFCON trophy drought by winning the title. There were times we encountered many near-misses which left us a lot of pain as a team and as a nation. However, through sweat and passion I heartily carried the flag of my nation when I converted the winning penalty on the fateful day on October 16, 2009, at the Cairo International Stadium," the statement said, recalling the iconic moment when Ghana won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.
Touching on the collective failure of the Black Stars to end their trophy drought during his stint, the former Udinese man added that he was open to serving the nation in a different capacity.
"Though I remain a bit disappointed in our collective failures to lift the AFCON title I know my colleagues around today have the requisite capacity to deliver the title for us very soon. Though I have hanged my playing boots I will always remain available to serve the nation in a different capacity".
The midfielder has endured a torrid 18 months which saw him switch Udinese for Hellas Verona, suffer a pulmonary microembolism in August 2019 and his sister Hagar was shot and killed in Berekum in March 2020.
In a recent publication on the BBC, the midfielder described 2019 and 2020 as the toughest years of his life.
"I nearly died, I got a lot of injuries - and then I lost my sister in a very painful way," he wrote.
"It's very difficult for me and my family. The guy who shot my sister is on the run; they haven't got him yet, because things are going slowly because of this virus. It was a disaster".
He made 78 appearances for Ghana's Black Stars scoring 11 goals.
Agyemang-Badu played for Ghana at the 2010, 2012 and 2013 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He also represented Ghana at the 2014 FIFA World Cup after missing the 2010 edition through injury.
Read the entire statement below;
RETIREMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL
Although I have been out of the Ghana national team for a while, I'm here today to express my profound gratitude to the nation which has been of immense help to my career. Wearing the national colours has always been a moment of pride and honour for me and my heart has always been with the teeming fans who have offered me unflinching support throughout the years
On this day, after extensive consultation with my family and love ones. I have come to the decision that the time is ripe to officially hang my boots and retire from international football.
One of my biggest dreams throughout my footballing career was to help my motherland end our AFCON trophy drought by winning the title. There were times we encountered many near-misses which left us a lot of pain as a team and as a nation. However, through sweat and passion I heartily carried the flag of my nation when I converted the winning penalty on the fateful day on October 16, 2009 at the Cairo International Stadium. It's a moment I cherish very much. Not only because we lifted had the title but also I helped bring honour to my country as we became the first country in Africa to win the coveted U20 FIFA World Cup. We also won the U20 African Cup of Nations en route to the success in Egypt
Though I remain a bit disappointed in our collective failures to lift the AFCON title I know my colleagues around today have the requisite capacity to deliver the title for us very soon. Though I have hanged my playing boots I will always remain available to serve the nation in a different capacity.
Long Live Ghana Our Motherland Long Live Black Stars!
Ayekoooo to all of us.
God bless us all.
Source: graphiconline.com
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