Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan believes Antoine Semenyo will carry the hopes of an entire nation at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, warning that the Manchester City forward will face enormous expectations following his rapid rise in European football.
Speaking to Sky Sports during a PUMA launch event in New York for Ghana’s World Cup kit, Gyan acknowledged the pressure Semenyo will encounter as he prepares to spearhead Ghana’s attack at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
There will be a lot of pressure on Semenyo going to the World Cup,” Gyan said.People back home have questions about his performance when it comes to the national team, but as a former player and a striker, I have to be in his shoes.”
The former Ghana captain explained that Semenyo’s move to Manchester City and his impressive performances at club level have inevitably raised expectations among supporters. “There will be a bit of pressure because of where he’s playing now. When you’re playing for one of the best teams in the world, and you come into the national team, there will be a lot of expectations. “He’s the face of Ghana football right now because of his position and what he has done for himself. Everything is going to depend on Antoine Semenyo for this World Cup.”
Semenyo joined Manchester City from AFC Bournemouth in January after an impressive first half of the season, during which he scored 10 Premier League goals and provided three assists.
The Ghanaian forward quickly adapted to life at the Etihad Stadium, adding seven more league goals to finish among the Premier League’s leading scorers and netting the winner against Chelsea FC in the FA Cup final.
Gyan praised the striker’s qualities, highlighting his versatility and physical attributes. “He has done so well for himself for now,” Gyan said, describing Semenyo as a player who is comfortable with both feet and possesses pace, agility and strength.
Despite securing qualification for the World Cup, Ghana’s preparations have been far from ideal.
The Ghana Football Association appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach in April following the dismissal of Otto Addo.
While Addo guided Ghana to a fifth World Cup appearance in six editions, he also oversaw the disappointing Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign that saw the Black Stars fail to secure a place at the continental tournament.
Since booking their place at the World Cup, Ghana have endured a difficult run of results, losing friendlies against Japan, South Korea, Austria, Germany and Mexico.
The latest defeat, a 2-0 loss to Mexico on May 23, extended the team’s winless streak to five matches.
Gyan admitted he has struggled to understand the contrast between Ghana’s strong World Cup qualifying performances and their disappointing AFCON campaign. “Sometimes it’s a bit confusing how we didn’t qualify for AFCON, and then we did so well in the World Cup qualification,” he said. “When you watch our World Cup games and then the AFCON qualifiers, there was a huge difference.” “There were a lot of criticisms around, but the World Cup is huge.
We deserve to qualify for the World Cup in terms of how we played in the qualifiers. But in the AFCON qualifiers, it was a big disaster.”
Ghana will face Wales in a final warm-up match before opening their World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto on June 18.
The Black Stars will then take on England in Foxborough, Boston, on June 23 before concluding their group-stage fixtures against Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.
For Gyan, the match against England is the fixture that stands above all others. “For everyone in Ghana, that is the game they want to win,” he said. “When it comes to world football, England are up there, but as a Ghanaian, I have to root for my boys.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the encounter, Gyan urged the team to remain focused on the broader objective of progressing from the group. “We need to make sure we stay focused because it’s different from friendly games; anything can happen in a tournament. “We shouldn’t think about England or how they’re going to perform.
Our main focus is to qualify from the group stage. But England against Ghana is a cracker.”
Gyan remains the only Ghanaian player to score against England, having netted a dramatic late equaliser in a 1-1 friendly draw at Wembley Stadium in March 2011.
Reflecting on that memorable occasion, he described it as one of the highlights of his international career. “When the game was made, I was like, ‘This is it, I just want to do something for my national team.’ “It was even one of my best games for Ghana, and I scored in the last minute. It was a great moment.”
Gyan said the upcoming World Cup meeting with England immediately brought back memories of that famous goal.
“When the World Cup draw was made, I saw the game in my mind. We made history, and I’ve been part of that game to score that incredible goal. I’m very happy about that, especially playing against England.”
As Ghana prepares for another World Cup campaign, much of the spotlight will fall on Semenyo, whose performances could prove crucial to the Black Stars’ hopes of advancing from what promises to be a highly competitive group.
