Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo says his relationship with God will always come before football after being baptised in December and committing himself more deeply to his Christian faith.
The 25-year-old, who has several tattoos inspired by his beliefs, said his baptism by a local pastor represented a significant step in his spiritual journey. The opportunity had previously been delayed by the demands of his football career.
Speaking to the BBC, Semenyo said the ceremony had strengthened his determination to practise his faith and live according to its teachings.
“I know that I am obviously walking with God at the moment, and I want to maximise my faith as much as I can, so practising gives me the opportunity to do that,” he told the BBC.
“When I got the opportunity, I made sure I took it. I am so happy I have done it and I am in the walk of faith now and it’s been amazing.”
Semenyo, who has become one of Ghana’s leading attacking players, explained that prayer is now a regular part of his preparation on matchdays.
He often prays before games and has also joined fellow footballers Jeremy Doku and Marc Guehi for prayer sessions at their team hotel before kick-off. Semenyo said those shared moments give the players time to reflect and help prepare them mentally and spiritually for the match.
For the Black Stars forward, however, his faith is not simply something that complements his football career. He sees it as the foundation of everything he has achieved.
Asked whether there was anything more important to him than football, Semenyo gave an unequivocal answer.
“Yeah, 100%. I wouldn’t be here without him [God], so there is always going to be faith and football after,” he said.
“I think God gave me the talent to be a footballer; he gave me all the skills, he gave me the mindset and the mentality, so I owe it to him to perform and maximise his words to the world.”
Semenyo has earned increasing recognition for his performances for both club and country in recent years. His progress has established him as an important attacking figure for Ghana, while his form at club level has continued to attract attention.
He featured for Manchester City in their pre-season meeting with Inter Milan on Saturday and provided an assist during the game. That contribution added to the evidence of his growing influence as he continues to develop an impressive career.
Despite the demands of professional football, Semenyo said the delay before his baptism had ultimately made the moment more meaningful. He now considers himself to be on a deeper “walk of faith” and believes his footballing ability carries a responsibility to reflect the beliefs that guide him.
For Semenyo, prayer, worship and preparation are closely linked, but the order of importance remains clear: football is part of his life, while his faith comes first.
