“I am a pure Yoruba man” — Emmanuel Adebayor

Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed that he is indeed a son of the soil from Nigeria.

The former African Player of the Year was in Nigeria to participate in the novelty match organized by African football legends in honor of former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha, who recently turned 50.

The Togolese superstar was one of the special guests at the event organized by BetKing in honor of their ambassador, Okocha.

He led the African contingent alongside Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan to the match held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Stadium, last Sunday.

However, in the end, Okocha’s Dynamo, with Adebayor and Gyan, lifted the title following a 8-5 win over Nigeria’s dribbler which included some of his former colleagues in the Super Eagles led by Emmanuel Amokachi, Taribo West, Joseph Yobo, and Ifeanyi Udeze amongst others.

Adebayor had 88 caps for Togo, scored 2 times, and helped his country reach its first and only FIFA World Cup in 2006.

The former Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Manchester City forward enjoyed an illustrious career before he announced his retirement from football at the age of 39 earlier this year.

The former Arsenal star admitted that though he was born and brought up in Togo, the Nigerian blood still runs in his veins.

“My father’s name is Adeyi Adebayo and my mother’s name is Alice Semiola Adekani,” he told TVC.

“So, I am a pure Yoruba man. I was just born in Togo and was raised by Nigerian parents. I grew up in Togo. I am fully from Nigeria.”