Back
Beyond the Celebration: Emmanuel Adebayor’s story of struggle, success, and service to Africa
Feb 26, 2025
Chances are when you Google the name “Emmanuel Adebayor,” one of the first photos to come up is his unforgettable goal celebration after scoring for Manchester City against his former club Arsenal in 2009. Beyond the transcendent moments, beyond the frequently applied “polarizing” label, Adebayor’s full story, shared with NBC Sports as part of the “By Way of Africa” series, paints a more complex picture — one that speaks to the challenges and triumphs that shaped him.
Born and raised in Togo to Nigerian parents, Adebayor overcame poverty to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspur. He is widely regarded as an African football legend.
Amidst his numerous achievements, Adebayor — Togo’s all-time leading scorer — has never lost sight of where he comes from. Since the start of his career, his passion for Africa and giving back have been at the core of everything he does.
In the conversation below, Adebayor — now retired from professional football — reflects on the difficulties of his childhood and why he felt he was misunderstood. He also revisits some of the most defining moments of his career and opens up about the regrets he carries, the immense joy he feels in representing Togo, his passion for creating opportunities for Africa’s next generation, and the impact being made through his foundation.
8Shares
0Comments
13Favorites
5Likes
No content at this moment.