L-R: Semenyo, Inaki Williams and Agyemang Badu are Ghanaian footballers
Former Ghanaian midfielder, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has said that lack of proper orientation in the Black Stars contributes to the slow adaptation of some expatriate players who join the team.
According to him, the transition of players born abroad has not been properly planned, which affects team chemistry and cohesion.
The former Udinese player disclosed that he has undertaken courses in talent identification, where he learned about culture and the importance of properly orienting new players to prepare their minds for adaptation.
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“Since we won the World Cup, it’s been 16 years and our U20 has been underwhelming in tournaments. I did a talent identification course and learned about how players brought from Europe like our boys who are solid with quality, such as Inaki and Semenyo struggle when they come to Ghana or our terrain.”
“Socialisation is key. Culture and the demands of Ghanaian supporters are all crucial. They might be thrilled by the support they see on social media, but you need to sit them down and explain the fans’ behaviour towards defeats, the pitches we have, so that when they see poor pitches they won’t be surprised. If this is not done, it takes them time to fit into the team,” he said during an interview with UTV.
Agyemang Badu noted that expatriate players are now gradually gelling into the team, with their performances being key in the Black Stars’ qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“It is something we are struggling with because they are not assimilated into our culture. That is why we could not qualify for AFCON. But once they fitted in well, we were able to qualify for the World Cup,” he added.
Watch the interview below:
I am highly optimistic about the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 World Cup – Agyeman Badu#UCook pic.twitter.com/yAGRDFH0Kv
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) January 25, 2026
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Meanwhile, watch as GAF honor outstanding sports personalities
