Former Ghana midfielder, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has raised concerns regarding the current approach to building the senior national team.
Ghana has increasingly turned to foreign-trained players, citing a perceived lack of talent in the domestic league to strengthen the Black Stars.
Agyemang-Badu, a FIFA U-20 World Cup winner, expressed disappointment over the absence of a structured and sustainable plan for nurturing a competitive national team.
He highlighted the era of Ben Koufie, during which a five-year development strategy produced notable players like Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari.
Drawing from his own experience as part of the U-20 team that clinched the World Cup in 2009 and seamlessly transitioned into the senior squad, Agyemang-Badu emphasized the importance of a succession plan, which he believes is currently lacking.
Speaking on UTV, he remarked, “We don’t have a plan. During Ben Koufie’s time, there was a 5-year development plan which produced the likes of Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari, from the youth national teams.”
Agyemang-Badu further reflected on his generation’s journey from the U-20 success to joining the senior team, underscoring their readiness to assume responsibilities when the older players phased out.
“It’s been 15 years since we won that U-20 trophy for Ghana, but unfortunately, we don’t have an U-20 side close to the strength of the 2009 team,” he lamented, implying a concerning decline in youth development.
His remarks shed light on broader issues within Ghanaian football, prompting a critical examination of the nation’s approach to talent development and squad-building strategies.
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