{
  "id": 9027352,
  "title": "‘I was the one that made the decision for him'- Adebayor on influencing Senaya to represent Ghana over Togo",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/i-was-the-one-that-made-the-decision-for-him-adebayor-on-influencing",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T22:46:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "3News",
    "slug": "3news",
    "url": "https://3news.com/sports/i-was-the-one-that-made-the-decision-for-him-actually-adebayor-reveals-role-in-senayas-ghana-switch"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor has disclosed that he played a pivotal role in persuading Marvin Senaya to choose representing Ghana over Togo on the international stage. During an appearance on TV3's Sports Station, Adebayor, who is a close friend and \"great godfather\" to Senaya, spoke about his influence on the young defender's decision. Senaya had the option of playing for either Ghana or Togo, but ultimately opted to commit his international career to the Black Stars. Adebayor's advice to Senaya was driven by his own World Cup experience, believing the tournament could be a defining moment in the young player's career. He stressed that major international tournaments are rare for footballers, and that Senaya should not miss the opportunity to represent Ghana, especially since the country had already secured qualification. Adebayor emphasized that the World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for players, and that Senaya should seize the moment. Senaya ultimately took Adebayor's advice and made his international debut for Ghana, performing well against Austria and earning a place in the World Cup squad. Despite Ghana's heavy defeat, Senaya's performance caught the attention of the coaching staff, leading to his continued inclusion in the team. However, his World Cup hopes were cut short by injury, leaving Ghana vulnerable in their Round of 32 match against Colombia. Adebayor, proud of Senaya's efforts and the decision he made, praised the young defender's performance and expressed his happiness for his friend. Senaya has since become a regular figure for Ghana, with four appearances at the 2026 World Cup, making a significant impact as a result of Adebayor's guidance.",
  "summary": "Former Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed that he played a significant role in convincing Marvin Senaya to choose Ghana over Togo at international level, describing himself as a close friend and “great godfather” to the young defender.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}