“Who are you excited to see in the Black Stars? Semenyo, Semenyo, Semenyo,” that was the refrain from hysterical fans when I bimbled around the Accra Sports Stadium on the opening day of the Black Stars’ training session ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying game against Chad.
On September 4, the decibel levels back home could increase further if Antoine Semenyo is able to find the back of the net.
But much of that will centre on several factors, including his role in the team.
Semenyo had not scored for the Black Stars since 2023, only ending his goal drought in March’s international window against Thursday’s opponents.
There are two types of Semenyo; the one who makes a lower table Bournemouth fight for a place in Europe, and the one who turns up to international duty looking flustered.
The sight of Semenyo strolling on the pitch, getting his first touch wrong, and missing clear-cut opportunities has become all-too familiar in white.
When push comes to shove, time without number, he’s proven that he has quality.
At Anfield, in the face of adversity, he bagged a brace albeit Bournemouth, losing 4-2 to Liverpool on the opening night of the Premier League.
In Bournemouth’s first win of the season, he provided the all-important assist to help the Cherries overcome Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Three-goal involvements (two goals and an assist) isn’t a fluke.
There’s definitely something the English-born Ghanaian winger is doing right, especially of the back of an impressive individual season where he scored a career-high 11 Premier League goals.
How to unlock Semenyo
A defender’s nightmare; quick, agile, and tenacious. You show him one way he goes the other. Show him on his left foot, and he comes back on the right, which makes him difficult to deal with.
Having this in mind, in Andoni Iraola’s setup in the current season, Semenyo is utilised on the left side of attack in a 4-1-4-1 system.
It has paid off thus far. The season is young, but we can see his early imprints.
In Iraola’s system, Semenyo is required to do as much defending without the ball as he must when Bournemouth have the ball.
Obviously the single-mindendness of playing against quality and intense opponents on a weekly basis is a massive factor.
But in the Black Stars, who have a lot of ball winners and quality players in midfield, Semenyo could be used in the same position (at the left side of a 4-3-3 attack) but with less defensive responsibilities.
His devastating pace and shot power means when he cuts onto his right in one v one situations -another strong ability he has – there’s every possibility a shot creation activity is possible.
The most valid candidate for the left wing position aside Semenyo in Ghana’s 24-man squad has to be Kamaldeen Sulemana, who, on current form, is behind the Bournemouth forward.
In an ideal sense, Otto Addo playing Semenyo on the left side of a fluid front three who can inter change positions from time to time, just to mix it up and keep defenders guessing, will be the perfect fit.
Having a ball winner and passer in Partey behind means Semenyo can hug the touchline to maintain the width in attack for the Black Stars or make darting runs in behind.
Either works because he’s got quality. There’s also that never-ending temptation of sticking Semenyo through the middle.
Not an entirely bad idea, but it won’t yield as much.His strike against Chad came from closing down his opponent quickly and battling.
With Jordan Ayew almost certain to lead the line as skipper, his off the ball running is laudable, as shown in his club side.
Fittingly, playing off the left means he can cut in and combine with Jordan, who is very good with his back to goal and his feet.
With 15 points from six games, the time to dully-dally is long gone, and so is the time for experimenting.
Wrapping up qualification as early as possible is the target, with the Black Stars on 15 points in group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Semenyo is Ghana’s main man at this juncture with Kudus struggling in the national colours, and it is only right to play according to his strength.
