Can Antoine Semenyo Fire Ghana To World Cup Glory?
When Manchester City paid big money to take Antoine Semenyo out of Bournemouth in January, some were questioning whether he could transfer his form to the highest of levels. Six months later, that question has been answered with aplomb. Semenyo scored vital goals and made crucial assists across all competitions in manager Pep Guardiola’s final campaign as manager, helping them win the FA Cup most notably. He arrives at the World Cup in form and as Ghana’s most important player.
The Player Ghana Have Been Waiting For
Ghana have always punched above their weight. The run to the quarter-finals in 2010, ended by Luis Suarez’s controversial handball, remains a point of reflection. But since that day in Johannesburg, Ghana have endured successive group-stage exits. In 2026, the squad has genuine quality, but in Semenyo, for the first time, it has a game-changer. And at 26, he’s only going to get better.
What He Brings
It’s not just the goals that make Semenyo dangerous, it’s how he scores them. He’s powerful, direct and two-footed. He operates from the right but drifts inside with defenders struggling to contain him. Since joining City, he’s proven he can operate under the highest scrutiny, with football betting odds reflecting that by continuing to suggest he’s a likely goalscorer, regardless of opposition. Ghana, who aren’t tipped to win Group L, will stand a chance of doing well because of Semenyo.
The Supporting Cast
Semenyo won’t carry Ghana alone. Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao provides a physical and relentless presence in attack. Abdul Fatawu performed admirably for Leicester City in the Championship despite their relegation. Winger Kamaldeen Sulemana of Atalanta is a direct wide option, while captain Jordan Ayew has 117 caps worth of experience. The loss of Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus through injury is a major blow. Still, it will lead to Semenyo having a more pivotal role in manager Carlos Queiroz’s plans than he may have had previously.
The Group Stage Challenge
Ghana kick off their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 before taking on England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27. On paper, it is a tough draw; there’s no escaping that. In practice, you could argue that Ghana have beaten teams of this calibre before, and Queiroz, who has managed at multiple World Cups, will be setting his team up to go out and win. The good news for Ghana is that they should be more than capable of defeating Panama in their opening fixture, which means they will get three points on the board immediately. If England beat Croatia, it will apply pressure on the latter in the race for second place. Ghana would love to win the group, but just qualifying for the Round of 32 is what matters. Semenyo hitting the ground running against Panama will be key.
The Verdict
Ghana haven’t been able to progress past the World Cup group stages since 2010. The squad has since improved, and the manager has a lot of experience managing at these tournaments specifically. And, for the first time in a long time, Ghana have a player in Antoine Semenyo capable of delivering in the biggest of moments. If Semenyo can get into his groove early, Ghana have an excellent chance of getting out of Group L. It’s as simple and as exciting as that.