Manchester City and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has allegedly opened up about his decision to withdraw from Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, reportedly citing the pressure surrounding his performances for the Black Stars. Semenyo, who completed his move from Bournemouth to Manchester City in January 2026 and signed a contract that runs until 2031, has established himself as part of the Premier League champions’ attacking options. The Ghana international is quoted as saying that he struggles to reproduce his best performances when representing the Black Stars and believes the expectations surrounding him have made the situation increasingly difficult. “When I play for Ghana, I struggle to perform. I know I can never be another Asamoah Gyan to the fans, so the best thing I could do was fake an injury to withdraw from the AFCON qualifiers.” The alleged comments have generated discussion about the pressure placed on Ghanaian forwards to live up to the standards established by previous generations of Black Stars stars, particularly former captain Asamoah Gyan. Gyan remains Ghana’s all-time leading goalscorer and is remembered for his performances at major international tournaments. His legacy has contributed to the expectations placed on subsequent generations of Ghanaian attackers, with supporters often looking for a forward capable of producing similar numbers and decisive moments for the national team. Semenyo’s situation is particularly notable because his club career has continued to rise. After becoming one of Bournemouth’s most influential attacking players, he earned a move to Manchester City, where he has continued to feature prominently. City confirmed his arrival as their first signing of the January 2026 transfer window. The forward’s development at club level has therefore contrasted with the alleged difficulties he describes when playing for Ghana. His comments, if authentic, would highlight the different pressures players can experience when switching between club and international football. The most serious part of the alleged statement, however, is the claim that he deliberately faked an injury to avoid the AFCON qualifiers. Such an admission would raise questions about his relationship with the national team and the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal. At present, the quotation should be treated as an alleged statement unless it can be independently verified through an original Sky Sports interview or report. The context in which the words were supposedly made would also be important in determining exactly what Semenyo meant. #fyp #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #semenyo #viral #creatorsearchinsights
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- 22 Sept 2026
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