Ghana and Udinese midfielder, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu says he is saddened by the misfortune that Samuel Inkoom has had to endure in the last couple of years but he is hopeful that his ‘good friend’, will overcome his current challenges with FIFA, and make a stunning comeback.
Badu and Inkoom both played for Asante Kotoko and were key players when the Black Satellites of Ghana conquered the world to win the World Youth Championship at the expense of Brazil in 2009.
That feat which makes Ghana the only Africa side to have won the U-20 World Cup, propelled both players to dizzying heights. But misfortune struck for Inkoom when he financial misunderstanding with his former agent which ultimately led to a FIFA ban two years ago.
Badu says it must be a difficult situation for Inkoom but he hopes a solution can be found for Inkoom to return to the field soon.
Speaking on Sports Check with Ghanaweb.com editor, Daniel Oduro, Badu said,
“If you are a footballer and it happens like this it will be very hard but Samuel is a strong boy. We have been chatting a lot and I can say he is working hard to be back. He is very intelligent and experience and I believe he will solve the problems and be back strongly.”
Last month, Samuel Inkoom was hit with another one-year ban by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) after failing to pay an agent he allegedly cheated in a transfer back in 2014.
In June 2017, the 29-year-old was ordered to pay Curtis Willer $65,000 or in default serve one-year ban, Inkoom failed to pay the said money and he was banned by FIFA.
After failing to settle the agent, the case was open again and he has been handed another ban.
Inkoom career’s has taken a nosedive following his move from FC Basel to Dnipro seven seasons ago. He has struggled to find his form which compelled Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to sign him from Swiss side for $10 million in 2011.
He was a key member for the Black Stars at the 2010 FIFA World Cup helping the team reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time.
The last time he featured for the national team was in an International friendly against the Netherlands in Rotterdam in a warm-up game for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
