Some footballers seem destined for the biggest stages from the moment they first kick a ball.
They have the confidence, talent and determination needed to compete at the highest level. For Ghanaian footballer Evelyn Badu, that journey began in Seikwa, a small town in the Tain District of the Bono Region.
Today, Badu is one of Ghana’s most exciting female footballers. Her journey from playing football with boys in her hometown to representing Ghana on the international stage is a story of talent, hard work and strong mentorship.
“I was born to play football. Right from when I was a child, I found myself playing with boys and just enjoying the game. I felt it right from the very beginning,” Badu explains.
From Seikwa to Hasaacas Ladies
Badu’s early football development took place in the streets and communities of Seikwa.
However, she eventually needed a bigger platform to develop her talent. That opportunity came when she moved to Hasaacas Ladies in Sekondi-Takoradi.
The move became a major turning point in her career.
One person who played an important role in helping Badu make that transition was former Ghana international Samira Suleman.
Suleman took Badu into her home and helped guide her during her early years in the sport.
“Samira took me into her home and mentored me. She changed my life. I had to leave my hometown and come to the city [Sekondi-Takoradi] so that I can learn more about football,” Badu reminisces.
Suleman’s influence went beyond football training. She helped Badu adjust to a new environment while giving her the guidance needed to develop as a young player.
Suleman later explained why she believed Badu had the potential to become a top footballer.
“I saw a young, passionate player with all the attributes of becoming a great footballer. She was technically, tactically and physically gifted, but I felt she needed to develop the mental side of the game. I believed that with the right mentoring and guidance, she could go very far.”
Early International Experience
At just 16 years old, Badu earned a place in Ghana’s Black Princesses squad for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in France.
Although she did not feature in the tournament, the experience gave her an early taste of international football.
Rather than allowing the experience to discourage her, Badu continued working on her game.
Her progress at Hasaacas Ladies eventually saw her become an important member of the team.
In 2021, she played a key role as Hasaacas Ladies won the league title for the first time since 2015.
That success earned the club a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU Zone B qualifiers.
Badu Makes Her Mark in Africa
Hasaacas Ladies went on to win the regional competition and qualified for the first-ever CAF Women’s Champions League.
Badu played a major role in the team’s impressive campaign.
She scored five goals during the competition and helped Hasaacas Ladies reach the final.
Although the Ghanaian side eventually lost 2-0 to South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, the tournament represented an important moment in Badu’s development.
It was her introduction to continental club football, and she used the experience as another step toward becoming an elite player.
Suleman, who represented Ghana at the 2014 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, had already recognised Badu’s potential.
Her belief in the young player proved to be well placed.
The Importance of Female Mentors
Badu’s development also highlights the importance of mentorship in women’s football.
Suleman believes young female footballers benefit greatly when they have experienced women who understand the challenges of the game and can guide them.
“It is extremely important. Female players need mentors who understand their journey, challenges and experiences. Having former female players and coaches in mentoring roles gives young players someone they can relate to, learn from and look up to. It also helps them develop beyond the pitch and prepares them for long-term careers in football.”
Suleman is now the Technical Adviser at Hasaacas Ladies. She also holds a UEFA License A Coaching Certificate after a playing career that included time in the United States and Iceland.
Her journey from player to coach and mentor has allowed her to help younger footballers develop both on and off the pitch.
From Africa to the World
Badu’s performances with Hasaacas Ladies earned her major individual recognition.
In 2022, she won the inaugural CAF Young Player of the Year and Inter Club Player of the Year awards at just 18 years old.
The awards confirmed her status as one of Africa’s emerging football talents.
For Badu, however, individual awards were only part of a much bigger journey.
She continued developing her game and eventually made her debut at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
During the tournament, she scored her first goal at the continental competition against Tanzania.
Ghana won the match 4-1, securing three important points and qualifying for the quarterfinals.
The Black Queens later faced Algeria in a difficult quarterfinal encounter.
After the match ended goalless following extra time, the game went to a penalty shootout.
Badu stepped up to take Ghana’s fourth penalty and successfully converted her effort as the Black Queens won 4-2 to secure a place in the semifinals.
Ghana eventually won bronze, but Badu and her teammates wanted more from their next opportunity.
“Although there is pressure, it is also good for us. We won the medal last year but we know that there is more for us. We want to reach the final. Apart from reaching the semifinals, we also want to qualify for the World Cup. You know, I have been thinking, the last time Ghana went to the World Cup, I was just four years old. I’m like, no! Now, we have the chance to take Ghana to the World Cup again. And we can do that against Malawi,” Badu explains further.
Learning From Difficult Matches
Football does not always go according to plan.
Badu and the Black Queens experienced that during their tournament campaign.
A 2-0 victory over Cabo Verde gave Ghana confidence, but Cameroon later defeated the Black Queens 1-0.
The result forced the team to regroup and respond.
Ghana eventually secured qualification to the knockout stages with a 1-1 draw against Mali.
For Badu, the experience provided another important lesson.
“In the game against Cameroon, we didn’t really show up in the first half but in the second half, we came back strong. We shall take that to the game against Malawi. We have to start strong. We cannot afford to waste 45 minutes and then go into the second half chasing the game. We have to come out of the first half strong, fighting together as a team,” Badu points out.
Her comments show the importance she places on mental strength and team discipline.
According to her coach, Kim Lars Björkegren, Badu brings several important qualities to the team.
Her pace allows her to threaten defenders, while her understanding of the game helps her find dangerous positions.
She is also regarded as a natural finisher who can make a difference in front of goal.
The Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu Connection
Another important figure in Evelyn Badu’s development is former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.
The former Black Stars midfielder has been a source of advice and support for the younger footballer.
The connection is also personal.
Both players come from Seikwa, giving Badu a strong example of what someone from her hometown can achieve through football.
“He is my uncle! It is great to have him in my life because it means that there is a small chance for me to also make it far in my life. He is from Seikwa, I am also from Seikwa. If he was able to make it then it means that even I can make it. We speak before games, every time, after games. He explains to me something like; you should have done this, stood here, like that. You can do this. Even when things do not go well, he is there to guide me and keep on supporting me. I know he was happy when I scored the goal [against Mali],” she says passionately.
Agyemang-Badu’s experience gives Evelyn another person to turn to when she needs advice about her football career.
The former Ghana international represented the Black Stars at five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
He also played an important role in Ghana’s historic FIFA U20 World Cup victory in 2009, scoring the winning penalty in the final.
That experience could be especially valuable to Badu as she continues developing her own game.
Aiming for the World Cup
For Evelyn Badu, the next goal is bigger than individual success.
She wants to help Ghana return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ghana’s return to the global tournament would represent a major achievement for the current generation of Black Queens players.
Badu believes the team has the ability to make history.
Her confidence is supported by the progress she has already made.
From playing football with boys in Seikwa to joining Hasaacas Ladies, competing in African club football and representing Ghana at major tournaments, her career has developed rapidly.
She has also benefited from the guidance of people who believed in her talent from an early age.
Evelyn Badu’s Journey Continues
Evelyn Badu’s story is a reminder that football careers can begin in the simplest places.
For her, it started in Seikwa, where she discovered a love for the game as a child.
That passion eventually took her to Hasaacas Ladies and then onto the international stage.
Along the way, she has won major individual awards, helped her club achieve continental success and become an important player for the Black Queens.
Her journey also shows the importance of mentors such as Samira Suleman and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, whose guidance has helped her navigate the challenges of professional football.
Now, with the possibility of World Cup qualification ahead, Badu has another opportunity to make history.
Her ambition is clear. She wants Ghana to go further, compete for major honours and return to the biggest stage in women’s football.
For a player who says she was born to play football, the journey from Seikwa to the world is only beginning.
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