Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has delivered a bold message ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, insisting that the Ghana national football team are not traveling to the tournament merely to participate, but to compete at the highest level and make a serious impact on the global stage.
“We are not just coming to the World Cup, we want to compete on all levels… we can compete with these teams. It’s just about winning games, having fun and showing the nation what we can do,” Semenyo said, reflecting a renewed sense of belief within the Black Stars camp via FIFA.
The forward also admitted the disappointment of Ghana’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations was a painful setback, but stressed that the team has responded positively by securing qualification for the World Cup. He believes the current squad has learned from recent experiences and is now better prepared for the demands of top-level international football.
“We were so frustrated that we didn’t qualify for the AFCON. It was very, very tough. But I feel like we’ve rectified that in terms of qualifying for the World Cup.”
Semenyo was part of Ghana’s squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he made brief appearances as the Black Stars exited at the group stage. That experience, he suggests, has strengthened his mentality and deepened his hunger to play a bigger role this time around.
Ghana’s recent World Cup history has been a mixture of pride and frustration. After the historic quarter-final run in 2010, where the Black Stars became only the second African nation to reach that stage, the team has struggled to replicate that success, failing to progress beyond the group stage in subsequent tournaments.
At the 2026 edition, Ghana faces a challenging group featuring England national football team, Croatia national football team, and Panama national football team—a test that will demand both discipline and belief.
Semenyo’s rise in club football has mirrored his growing influence on the international stage. Now a key figure at Mancherter City, he has developed into one of Ghana’s most important attacking threats, combining pace, strength, and directness in the final third.
As the World Cup approaches, Semenyo stands as one of the players expected to lead Ghana’s charge. His message is clear: this is not just about participation—it is about competing, proving a point, and restoring Ghana’s reputation on football’s biggest stage.
