Agyemang-Badu applauds Moroccoâ??s U-20 World Cup success, urges Ghana to learn from their model

Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has praised Morocco’s historic run to the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, describing their achievement as the result of years of structured planning and investment in youth football.

Morocco became only the third African nation to reach the U-20 World Cup final and will face Argentina on Sunday, October 19.

Agyemang-Badu, who famously scored the winning penalty in Ghana’s 2009 U-20 World Cup triumph against Brazil, said he is not surprised by Morocco’s rise, noting that their youth development efforts have been deliberate and consistent.

"I’m not surprised. I’m a fan of what they’re doing. They started this process about four or five years ago," he said on Sporty FM. "They identified young talents across countries like Somalia and England and brought them into their system early to learn the culture, the demands of the nation, and the style of play. That’s how you build identity and quality."

He explained that Morocco’s long-term planning, including early scouting, consistent player development, and investment in infrastructure, has paid off. "They built something strong over time, and now Moroccan football is arguably the best in Africa," he added.

Agyemang-Badu also commended the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for its progress in youth football, particularly highlighting the Catch Them Young Referee Initiative as a positive step toward developing the next generation of officials and players.

"When I watch Morocco, I’m reminded of what they’ve been building. I’m not surprised at their success," he said. "But Ghana is also on the right track. The GFA president is doing well; look at how they’re developing the U-17s and the Catch Them Young referees. The referee who handled the Nations FC vs. Kotoko game, Adongo Angelous Akurugu, is just 17 and was fantastic. That’s the kind of effort we need to revive our junior national teams and sustain our football culture."

 

Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.

Read Full Story