22BET Ambassador Adebayor Backs McCarthy To Take Harambee Stars To 2026 World Cup

_{Former Togo and Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor during Football Fiesta Campaign press conference at Maa Hotel in Nairobi on Friday March 7, 2025. PHOTO/ 22 BET}

NAIROBI, Kenya- Ladies and Gentlemen, Kenya is about to experience one of the greatest football explosions in the country!

Hordes of former English Premier League (EPL) stars; from Emmanuel Adebayor to Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel and Yaya Toure will all descend in Nairobi to take the beautiful sport to Feverpitch level.

Standard Sports caught up with former Togolese and Arsenal FC great Adebayor who is already in the Kenyan capital and here is what the former African Player of the Year stated:

Welcome to Nairobi Adebayor. This is your third time in the Kenyan capital, what are you up to this time round?

Thanks Erick. I’m more than happy to come to Kenya again. The first time I was here with the Togo national team and now I have come to inspire the next generation of Kenyan footballers through the Football Fiesta Campaign program by 22BET whom I’m their ambassador. I will be engaging the football enthusiasts in a watch party this Sunday where I intend to inspire and motivate them to pursue their beloved career. A lot of fans want to see me, and I hope to meet, interact and network with them as we watch, discuss and shout ourselves horse while creating better memories in the game.

_{Standard Group PLC reporter Ochieng Oyugi up, close and candid with former Togo and Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor during an interview at Maa Hotel in Nairobi on Friday March 7, 2025. PHOTO/ 22 BET}

Alot of people are wondering what you have been doing with your retirement life after exiting active football in 2023. Can you put them up to speed?

Well, I’m running a real estate firm that is doing fine. I have over 200 employees who are working for me. I also have a football foundation (The SEA Foundation) that is promoting both sports and education. Infact, next week on Monday we are signing a deal with Mastercard back at home. I have also partnered with organisations like the BP, the American Embassy, the French Embassy and the University of Togo. The have all been instrumental in taking my foundation to the next level.

The other bit I do with my life upon retirement is that I now work as an ambassador for the Moroccan Football, Confederation of African Football, World football governing body Fifa and the 22BET.

What drew you to partner with 22BET, and how does this collaboration align with your values?

The gaming firm is big in football and the beautiful game is my love. The gaming firm is a reputable company whose vision and mission statements are in line with my values as a global football ambassador.

In what ways do you think the Football Fiesta Campaign initiative is going to impact lives of upcoming Kenyan footballers?

I still have a lot of dreams to achieve in life, and one of them is impacting the life of a Kenyan youth who is dying to see and meet out there. I’m now here, I want to talk to them and take pictures with them so their dreams and aspirations which is to be the next football star in the near future can be activated. I thank the Football Fiesta Campaign initiative for going overboard to put all these EPL stars together to visit Kenya to inspire these youngsters. It’s never easy to get all these icons together as their schedules are really crazy.

What do you think of Kenyan football of late, we just appointed South African legend Benni McCarthy as head coach, do you feel he has the capacity to take Harambee Stars to the World Cup?

I strongly believe the right job has been given to the right man. There is nothing better than Football Kenya Federation giving Benni the contract. I feel they got it right; this is because of what Benni has done as a footballer and what he has achieved as a coach. Remember, his last job was with Manchester United FC, where he was guiding stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Rashford, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.

As a player, Benni is big.He lifted the UEFA Champions League with Porto when they beat us (Monaco) 3-0 in the 2004 final, and he is also the all-time South African top scorer.

From these records, I believe Benni will impart Harambee Stars with incredible lessons he has amassed in the game and to me this is more than enough to state that he has the credibility to take Kenya to the World Cup.

Talking of UEFA Champions League, who are you putting your money on this season?

Real Madrid. Expect them to defend the crown. They no longer have those inhouse issues. They have the energy and the spirit to make it right in a row.

In your own capacity, what are you doing to elevate the beautiful game?

Apart from running the SEA Foundation which promotes education and sports, I have also acquired 65 acres of land where I want to establish an academy. This dream was inspired by painful childhood memories where I had to walk long kilometers to watch Abedi Pele and George Weah play football when they visited my country.

How did playing in the English Premier League shaped your life?

EPL is the greatest league on earth, if you get a chance as a player, then head there. The league imparted to me energy and passion which have been beneficial in my football journey to date. It made me to be my own man, with my own thinking capacity. It turned me into an employer, with hundreds of people currently working for me. It made me a better version of myself, someone who can run a company, a society and even a country if I win the presidency.

_{Former Togo and Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor during Football Fiesta Campaign press conference at Maa Hotel in Nairobi on Friday March 7, 2025. PHOTO/ 22 BET}

What inspired you into football and what can you say has been your greatest achievement in the sport?

I started football by default, as a kid I just wanted to enjoy myself. Then I found myself making a living out of it. I proceeded to win lots of trophies and today I’m happy that I’m an iconic name, well known across the continent and beyond. I really appreciate the doors that football has opened for me, like in the past few years I have shaken hands with many presidents from across Africa and beyond. This is a blessing to be honest.

You led Togo to Fifa World Cup in 2006, their debut and only appearance to date. How did you do it?

Assertiveness. There was total discipline in the team. We fought each other even in the locker rooms, because we had to get it right, and right we did. Everyone was well focused and I’m glad we made it to the World Cup even though some of my colleagues still do not talk to me because they felt I was harsh- I’m glad it paid off.

What’s your advice to upcoming footballers in Kenya and the rest of Africa?

Education is very important. You will need a brain to sign that contract, especially with a European club. So go to school. I also urge parents to let their children follow their passion in sport. Like my daughter, sometimes she feels like playing basketball and I let her be. When she feels like it’s football O’clock, I let her have her say.