Antoine Semenyo on In The Mixer (Image: ALL OUT FOOTBALL)
Manchester City star Antoine Semenyo is relishing the prospect of facing England at World Cup 2026. That’s despite the fact he could have been heading to the United States representing the Three Lions this summer had circumstances unfolded differently.
Semenyo, 26, will travel to the biggest sporting event on the planet as one of Ghana’s prized assets. It’s been almost exactly four years since the winger made his senior debut for the Black Stars and he has since developed into one of the squad’s most valuable players.
This summer will see Semenyo go head-to-head against his country of birth, as well as Croatia and Panama in Group L. Reflecting on this now, the Football Association may well wish it had exercised greater thoroughness in its recruitment after failing to pursue the £64million man.
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“I was never in the England rankings like that anyway,” he told In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet. “Ghana came (when I was) 20, 21? And I can’t turn down playing first team for Ghana, so it was such an easy decision.”
Antoine Semenyo could have played for England (Image: Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Born in London to Ghanaian parents, there was always a considerable chance of Semenyo’s allegiances being tested had his birth nation come calling. Yet there was one family member who was far more relieved than most that the phone never rang.
Recalling his first Ghana cap in May 2022, Semenyo said: “My dad was so happy, celebrating. He was like, ‘Yeah, you don’t play for England!’
“Everyone in my family was so happy. They support Ghana…I couldn’t even tell you. They watch games and it’s crazy. Shouting, kicking stuff in the house. It’s serious.”
Antoine Semenyo on In The Mixer (Image: ALL OUT FOOTBALL)
Semenyo’s father, Larry, was a footballer himself and played in Ghana’s top flight. He even shared the field with Tony Yeboah, who etched his name in the history books as one of the greatest finishers Africa has produced.
The Black Stars aren’t getting carried away, with Semenyo insisting the immediate priority remains advancing from their group. And he’ll have at least a handful of loved ones stateside to spur him on.
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“I imagine so, yeah,” he replied when asked if family will be flying out to watch him in action. “Mum and dad will be there, for sure. Uncles, aunties, they’ll probably be there too. There’ll be loads of them.”
When quizzed on whether he was relishing the prospect of facing England in the second group fixture, he responded: “Yeah. It’s gonna be tough but yeah.”
The sole previous encounter between England and Ghana was a 2011 friendly that finished 1-1. Despite Thomas Tuchel’s side sailing through qualifying unscathed, Semenyo and his teammates would take enormous pleasure in pulling off one of the tournament’s great upsets when the two nations lock horns at Gillette Stadium on 23rd June.
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