My teammates feared FIFA would doubt my age after my goal celebration– Agyemang Badu

Former Ghanaian international and U-20 World Cup hero Agyemang Badu recently shared a lighthearted yet memorable story from the historic night when the Black Satellites clinched Africa’s first gold medal in the U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Speaking with blogger Sammy Kay, Badu reflected on the thrilling victory and the controversies that often surround African teams in global competitions, particularly allegations of age cheating.

Badu’s decisive penalty in the final against Brazil remains etched in the hearts of Ghanaian football fans. Recounting the moment, he described how he celebrated with unrestrained joy after scoring the winning goal. “I pulled off my jersey and started running around like a madman,” he admitted, chuckling.

But the celebration took an amusing turn. While he was caught up in the excitement, searching for his brother who had placed a bet on him scoring the decisive goal, his teammates had other concerns.

“They were shouting at me to put my jersey back on,” Badu revealed, laughing. “They were afraid FIFA might think my physique looked too mature for a U-20 player. They said, ‘If they think you’re older, they’ll cancel the result.”

This moment of celebration and camaraderie highlights not only the joy of victory but also the persistent stereotypes African players face regarding age manipulation in sports.

Addressing the topic head-on, Badu confidently dispelled any doubts about his age. “I’ve always said it—I have no hidden age. My age is exactly as it’s been since birth,” he asserted.

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