Four years ago at the World Cup in Qatar, Antoine Semenyo was a striker at English second-division club Bristol City.
He will go with the Black Stars as Ghana are nicknamed to the World Cup in 2026 following a campaign with an altogether different cityManchester.
Semenyo, who had just turned 26, was drafted into Pep Guardiola's Abu Dhabi-funded constellation of stars on 9 January after nearly four years with thePremier Leagueclub Bournemouth.
Dream start in Manchester
Hewas an instant hit with his new side. He scored once and provided an assist in a 10-1 FA Cup victory over Exeter City on 10 January.
A few days later, he opened the scoring in a 2-0 win at Newcastle United in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final. He also struck the winner in the FA Cup final against Chelsea in May.
In 317 league and cup games over eight years for teams in all the divisions of English and Welsh football, Semenyo has scored 76 times.
Ghana's coaches will be hoping he can add to a rather more modest return for the national team.
Since making his debut on 1 June 2022 against Madagascar, Semenyo who was born to Ghanaian parents in London has scored three times in his 34 appearances.
Barren run in 2022 World Cup
The first was notched up against Switzerland in a friendly warm-up for the World Cup in Qatar.
But no goals came during the tournament where he made two substitute appearances in the group stage match losses toPortugalandUruguay.
The other strikes arrived in a qualifier for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and in the qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Cup.
In an interview in April with the podcastIn the Mixer, Semenyo spoke about choosing to represent Ghana.
"They [Ghana] came in for me when I was 21 and I couldn't turn down Ghana," he told hosts Joleon Lescott and Olivia Buzaglo.
"It was such an easy decision. Everyone in my family was so happy. They support Ghana. They watch games on TV and they're shouting and kicking stuff in the house, it's serious."
Ghana start their Group L campaign against Panama at the BMO Fieldin Torontoon 17 June. Six days later in Foxborough, Massachusetts, they play England and conclude the group stages against Croatia in Philadelphia.
"It's going to be a tough group," said Semenyo during the podcast. "You cannot underestimate Panama. It is not going to be easy at all. Panama will be a tough game."
Pressure of playing for Ghana
On the back of turning out for college teams in his teens to scoring stylish winners in the FA Cup final, Semenyo told Lescott and Buzaglo that there was increased pressure on him to perform for the national squad.
"In Ghana the expectation is, every ball I touch has to be in the back of the net," he said.
"If its not, youre rubbish. Thats how they are.They love football over there. Football is everything. And when we don't do well there's a meltdown. So there's pressure."
At the 2026 World Cup under head coachCarlos Queiroz,Semenyo will compete with seven other strikers including skipper Jordan Ayew for a place in the starting line-up.
Renowned for his dribbling skills, close control, speed and strength, Semenyo will be expected to provide the pyrotechnics in the Ghana front line as the Black Stars seek a place in the knockout stages for the first time since the run to the last eight in 2010.
Semenyo sat out the 1-1 draw with Wales in Cardiff on 1 Junejust beforethe squadflew out to the US.
It was an absence that highlighted his worth.
Originally published on RFI
