In a phone-in interview on ICAD TV Sports Scoreboard with Paul Napoleon Agyemang, former Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has urged players of the Ghana national football team to take every opportunity seriously and prove their worth in all matches, including friendlies.

He stressed that players should not wait for major tournaments like the World Cup before showing their quality, adding that friendly matches are equally important for team building and selection.

Agyemang-Badu noted that during his playing career, he featured in friendly games and even picked up injuries, describing it as part of professional football. He added that any player unwilling to feature in friendlies does not deserve a place in the national team.

He also referenced Ghana’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, stating that the Ghana Football Association has still given coach Otto Addo another chance, which means competition for places will be tougher going forward.

Agyemang-Badu cautioned the team against underrating opponents, mentioning strong sides like Austria and Germany as examples of teams that must be respected in any match.

Aduana Stars Confident Ahead of Kotoko Clash
On the local scene, he also expressed confidence in Aduana Stars FC ahead of their upcoming clash with Asante Kotoko SC.

He said the team is well-prepared and expects strong fan support at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park, which could motivate the players to perform better. He admitted that Aduana had earlier struggled with finishing in matches against Bibiani Gold Stars and Berekum Chelsea FC, but noted that the issue has been addressed.

He concluded that although the match will be tough, Aduana Stars are ready to deliver a strong performance and compete for victory.