Ghana's Agyemang Badu ready for key Nations Cup role

Badu says he will be ready for game

Ghana midfield prodigy Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu is confident they youngster in the squad will be up to the task of beating Ivory Coast in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B game on Friday.

 
 
 
The 19-year-old is amongthe eight Ghana U20 players who have been called up to replace several injuredplayers ahead at the tournament in Angola.

 
The Black Stars have beendecimated because of injuries to key players Stephen Appiah, John Mensah, JohnPantsil while Sulley Muntari was left out because of disciplinary problems.

 
Agyemang-Badu, part of theU20 triumph, was not afraid by the prospect of possibly having to deputise forEssien.

 
"I don't think thereis pressure on us (the youngsters). We won the World Cup for Ghana so there isno pressure," he said.

 
"We have players likeMichael Essien, they will show us how to get confidence.

 
“Maybe I will have theopportunity to play but no matter how hard I want it, it depends on thecoach."

 
Ghana have yet to play agame after their opening match against Togo was cancelled following theirdeparture from Angola after the deadly attack on their team bus.