“I was never going to turn it down” – Semenyo on commitment to Ghana

Manchester City and Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has opened up about his decision to represent the Black Stars, revealing that he never seriously considered playing for England despite growing up in the country.

The 26-year-old explained that his international future with Ghana was decided early, with no major pressure from his family to pursue England.

According to Semenyo, the opportunity to represent the Black Stars came at the right time and was never in doubt.

“My mum and dad, they never really mentioned anything about England. Obviously living in England, you get a conversation, 'Oh, you should represent England', but it was never a conversation I've ever had, really. Ghana came when I was 19 or 20, so I was never going to turn it down,” Semenyo said.

The forward described his journey with Ghana as a deeply personal and emotional one, stressing the pride he feels every time he represents the nation. He also highlighted the strong support he receives from his family, who continue to back him passionately from afar.

“It means a lot, just cheering on Ghana, and they're cheering me on. It's great support, and I just love every memory. It's a dream come true, to be honest.”

Beyond his international allegiance, Semenyo also shared his belief in the current Black Stars squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He is confident that Ghana possesses enough quality and depth to compete with the world’s best and potentially cause major upsets.

“There is a lot of talent in the previous Ghana sides, but I feel like now it's coming in abundance. There are so many positions that we've got covered. There's so much talent. I feel like when we come together, we are such a special group with endless talent, and I feel we can shock a lot of nations. We just need to prove to the world that we can be up there and compete with everyone else. I feel like that's the only question right now. So once we do that, that would be the story rewritten.”

Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia, with their campaign set to begin against Panama on June 17. For Semenyo, the focus now shifts from reflection to action, as he aims to help the Black Stars turn belief into performance on football’s biggest stage.