Former Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed the advice he gave AJ Auxerre defender Marvin Senaya that influenced the youngster’s decision to represent Ghana at international level.
Senaya opted to commit his international future to the Black Stars at a crucial juncture in his developing career, with Ghana having already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Adebayor, who enjoyed an illustrious career at the highest level and represented Togo on the international stage, said he urged Senaya to seize the opportunity of playing at football’s biggest tournament.
“I told him this is the only chance you have. Ghana had already qualified for the World Cup, so I told him he had to go because it could be the major tournament of his lifetime,” Adebayor told 3News.
The former Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid striker also revealed the close relationship he shares with Senaya, explaining that the young defender values his guidance and takes his advice seriously.
“I’m like his great godfather. He always listens to my advice, takes it seriously, and I’m very happy for him,” he added.
Senaya’s decision paved the way for him to pursue his international career with Ghana, with the Black Stars subsequently featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For the defender, the timing of his decision proved particularly consequential. Ghana’s qualification offered him the opportunity to compete on football’s grandest stage and test himself against some of the world’s finest national teams.
Adebayor’s revelation also highlights the influence experienced football figures can have on the career decisions of emerging players, particularly when such counsel is informed by first-hand experience of elite international football.
The former Togo skipper’s advice ultimately centred on the magnitude of the opportunity awaiting Senaya, urging him to embrace a chance that might not readily present itself again.
Senaya was one of Ghana’s top performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup before his campaign was cut short by an injury against Colombia in the Round of 16, bringing an otherwise impressive tournament to a premature end.