Bristol City striker Antoine Semenyo says he was not sure he will be named in Ghana’s final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Semenyo will be representing the West African country at this year’s tournament for the first time in his career at age 22.
The 22-year-old made his debut for Ghana in June in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.
“I woke up early on the Monday and I got a call from a plus 233 number – that’s a Ghana number – and I wasn’t sure,” Semenyo told BBC Radio Bristol.
“I was a bit sceptical picking it up and it was the assistant coach saying I’ve been selected and it was all due to the hard work, so I’m happy.
“It felt so surreal, honestly, I couldn’t believe what he was saying. I even thought it was a fake number at one stage.
“But when he told me I was just so excited, rolling around in my bed so happy. That’s all the hard work that’s gone into it.”
25 players were put through their paces by coach Otto Addo including Alexander Djiku and Kamal Deen Sulemana who arrived earlier on Tuesday to join the rest of the team.
The players include, Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Danlad Ibrahim, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Nurudeen Abdul Manaf, Mohammed Salisu, Daniel Amartey, Denis Odoi, Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah, Alidu Seidu, Salis Abdul Samed, Elisha Owusu, Kamal Sowah, Antoine Semenyo, Tariq Lamptey, Osman Bukari, Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Daniel Barnieh Afriyie, Mohammed Kudus, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Alexander Djiku and Kamal Deen Sulemana.
The team will stay in the capital of the United Arab Emirates for four days where they will play an International friendly against Switzerland at the Baniyas club stadium on Thursday, November 17, 2022.
Ghana secured a 4th FIFA World Cup tournament having participated in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil after drawing 1-1 against Nigeria in the return leg of the final play-offs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to seal qualification on the away goals rule.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 20 and December 18, 2022.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana will be hoping to progress from the group stage at this year’s tournament.
