Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s life story is one of literal miracles and staggering perseverance, beginning in a setting of abject poverty that few can truly comprehend.
He recounts his harrowing childhood: “If I told you all this, you will be amazed. I was born in a house without electricity.”
“I was born in a house without a toilet. We didn’t have a toilet, so you couldn’t even bathe. So, you can imagine. And it was difficult… my parents couldn’t afford to pay school fees anymore.”
He further emphasises the severity of their poverty by detailing the school fees:
“I’m not talking about £1 000 or £2 000. I’m talking about maybe £7 or £10, because then it was a government school, a public school, which cost them maybe £5 per trimester, but they couldn’t afford it.”
His entry into the world of movement was itself miraculous, as he spent his earliest years unable to walk. The moment that changed his life forever came in a church in Ghana.
“I saw the ball flew over the wall… and I didn’t know I was not walking. I stood up and started running.”
Football was not just a career; it was his deliverance.
This foundational experience of struggle and miracle drives his dedication today.
“I think I’m doing it because of what I have been through. Because at some point, I was looking for somebody to give me football shoes.”
“I couldn’t get any. I was looking for somebody to give me a backpack to be able to go to school. I couldn’t. So, I would rather use it, even if I must use my own money, I will still do it with pleasure, and I’m doing it anyway.”
The pride of Togo and the power of representation
Despite being eligible to play for Nigeria, where his parents are from, and Ghana, Adebayor chose to represent his birthplace, Togo — a decision he views as the highest honour.
“Me playing for Togo is the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me. And it’s the most difficult decision I have made, and today I don’t regret it at all. If I must do it again, I will do it again and again and again. Because I think I was called to do that job and represent the country, my country… I will always have something of my flag. Always on my wrist or on my shin pad… It’s a message to tell my people that I can never forget you. I would rather die for you people.”
As the former African Footballer of the Year, Adebayor personally led Togo to their first and only World Cup appearance in 2006.
His inspiration for football, and the fuel for his career, was the legendary Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu. Owing to their resemblance and his passion for the game, he was nicknamed ‘Baby Kanu’ by his local community and later by his coaches in France. This bond eventually led him to follow his hero’s path to Arsenal.
“That is the reason why when Arsène Wenger called me… I said, ‘Before talking about money, let’s agree on one thing.’… ‘The only thing that will be a problem is I need this locker and this shirt number.’…”
“For me, it’s a dream come true: playing for Arsenal, using the same locker room as my idol, wearing his shirt number. What else can I ask for?”
The legacy of Kanu now flows through Adebayor to the next generation.
“If today I’m an icon for some people, it’s because of this person. If today I’m a legend for some people, it’s because of this person.”
He mentors young Premier League players not to ask for shirts, but to guide their success.
“You guys are making us proud in the continent… You guys must correct that image. You have to live well. You must do everything to be the idol, to be the icon for these guys because they needed us to tell them those things, because we have been there and done it.”
From goals to generosity: The work of the SEA Foundation
Adebayor’s retirement is less a cessation of work and more an elevation of his life’s true purpose: philanthropy. His efforts are now channelled through the SEA (Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor) Foundation, aimed at fostering self-sufficiency across the continent.
He is resolute in his belief that the ultimate achievement is not found in trophies but in service.
“I have to give back more than what I had… Obviously, scoring goals is beautiful, but helping a human being is much better… those are the things that keep me moving now. Those are the things that keep me driving forward.”
The Foundation is focused on a three-pronged approach: entrepreneurship, education, and agriculture. Adebayor explained the rationale for focusing on farming.
“In Africa there is something that they cannot take from us—it’s the land… Now I have to look into how to help my community, how to help my country, how to help my continent develop. And the only way I can help is the land.”
“The land is there. So, we have to cultivate. We have to do farming.”
This desire to help is so ingrained that he refuses to stockpile his wealth.
“You don’t even need—one day you will die. Then, then the next thing is like, ‘Oh, the bank takes 30% because they call it whatsoever.’ I would rather use that money to save my people. That’s what I’m doing.”
A voice for unity and peace: The Fifa Players’ Panel
His influence now extends beyond grassroots work, as he takes on a global role on Fifa’s Players’ Voice Panel, dedicated to fighting racism and promoting unity in football. For Adebayor, the panel is a platform to promote humanity over division.
“We just want peace. We just want people to know about the game. The colour is not important; we are all human beings, whether we are from Africa, you are from Venezuela, you are from America, Toronto, Europe. We are all the same people created by one God. So, those are the things that we want to make people understand.”
He passionately argues for global solidarity, especially in light of recent worldwide events.
“We should not be attacking each other. We should rather be protecting each other.”
The measure of true success
Adebayor’s final reflection illustrates the immense difference between a career defined by accolades and a life defined by impact. He described an encounter with a man whose ticket he once bought at an airport.
“You can see the voice trembling. ‘I can’t thank you enough.’… This is not football. This is not him telling me that I scored a goal anymore… Then you walk up and you’re like, you want to cry because that person, you can tell, he will tell that story to his children. His children will tell it to his grandchildren… which means it’s a legacy that you are creating.”
He compared this lasting impact to that of global figures.
“The same way I cannot go to South Africa today without going to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. He’s no more. He’s not with us anymore, but we still have to go to his Foundation because of his immortality, because of what he has done for the continent.”
In a life of spectacular highs and painful lows, Emmanuel Adebayor has found his truest calling — embodying the transformation from a young man seeking help to a generous leader now providing hope and possibility for generations across Africa.
* This story is courtesy of Showmax.
