Agyemang-Badu blames Black Satellites exit on lack of mental toughness

 

By: Patrick Akoto

Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang Badu says the country’s U-20’s lack of mental grit accounted for the team’s early exit from the ongoing Africa Youth Championship.

The Black Satellites were bundled out of the championship in South Africa at the group phase following defeat to Nigeria and two draws against Gambia and Cameroon.

The early exit has caused massive uproar among soccer fans in the West African country after the team won the last edition of the competition in Rwanda two years ago and conquered the World in Egypt the same year.

The Udinese enforcer who was part of the victorious squad in 2009 says the team’s failure to progress in the competition should be laid on lack of mental toughness.

“It’s so sad that after we what we did in 2009, this team didn’t go far and lift the image of the Nation high. I think they lacked team spirit and didn’t seem to have the will to die for the country as it was in our case,” Badu told Citi FM.

“During our time, we did work and looked out for each other and we had the team chemistry and spirit and it worked to perfection for us. In competition’s like this it important you psyche yourself and give over 100% to the course of the Nation.”