Ghana and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo says Cape Verde’s impressive run at the 2026 World Cup came as no surprise to African players who had faced the island nation before.
Cape Verde emerged as one of the surprise stories of the tournament, advancing beyond the group stage as part of an outstanding campaign for African football.
Nine of the 10 African nations that competed at the World Cup progressed to the knockout stages, while Morocco went on to reach the quarter-finals.
For Semenyo, however, Cape Verde’s performance was a continuation of what he had already seen from the team on the African stage.
The 26-year-old recalled facing Cape Verde at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and said he immediately recognised their quality.
“We played against them in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022. I remember coming off that game thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is one of the best African teams I’ve played.’ They were so, so good. So this wasn’t any news to us, but obviously to the world it was,” Semenyo said in a sit-down with CNN Sports during his club’s preseason tour at the Hong Kong Football Festival.
Cape Verde’s progress at the World Cup was part of a record-breaking tournament for Africa, with the continent demonstrating that its leading teams can compete with the strongest sides in international football.
Semenyo believes the performances in 2026 are evidence of the rapid development of African football and could help change perceptions of the continent’s teams.
“It shows African football is evolving. It shows the world we’re competing at the highest levels. Long may it continue.”
The Ghana forward’s comments come after a World Cup campaign that further strengthened Africa’s reputation on the global stage.
With nine African teams reaching the knockout rounds, the continent recorded one of its strongest collective performances at a World Cup.
For Semenyo, Cape Verde’s achievement was therefore less of a surprise and more confirmation of a trend he believes is already well under way.
The forward said African football must now build on the progress made at the tournament as teams continue to challenge the traditional powers of the international game.
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