Playing For Black Stars Is Not My Priority, Says Midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu

Midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has shockingly said playing for the Ghana national team, the Black Stars is not his priority now.

The Hellas Verona midfielder has been out of the national team after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the team exited the tournament at the phase.

Badu's career at Hellas Verona has not gone down as expected by many due to injuries.

But in an interview, the former Asante Kotoko midfielder says playing for the national team is not his priority now.

“The national team is not my goal at the moment, having played around 87 games," Badu told Takoradi based Spice FM.

"If I am no longer able to be summoned, I am still very proud of myself and I thank the nation.

"I speak with my entourage to decide whether or not to make the retirement of the national team official and I will communicate it at the appropriate time," he added.

In 2010, Badu was selected for his first Africa Cup of Nations as the Black Stars finished runners-up to Egypt, and went on to appear in the 2012 and 2013 editions of the tournament, with the team twice recording fourth-placed finishes.

Badu's career at Hellas Verona has not gone down as expected by many due to injuries.

After missing the 2010 FIFA World Cup through injury, Badu was selected in Ghana's squad for the 2014 tournament.

Badu scored the winning sudden death penalty on 16 October 2009 in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final against Brazil. The penalty made Ghana the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup.