Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo has identified Liverpool and Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk as the toughest defender he has ever played against. In a revealing interview, Semenyo recounted how Van Dijk’s presence and skill impacted his performance during a Bournemouth matchup against Liverpool.

“Hardest defender I’ve faced is Van Dijk… I remember running behind then all I hear is this man’s footsteps chasing me. I’m thinking this man is fast. This guy is like 6 foot 4, 6 foot 5 and he is fast, like he’s got presence, you can hear him coming. His aura just put me off; I dragged the ball wide. It’s tough.”

Semenyo recently completed the 2023-2024 English Premier League season with AFC Bournemouth, finishing 12th. He registered eight goals and two assists in 33 league appearances. The 24-year-old also featured in Ghana’s 2-1 win over Mali in Bamako in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier and is set to play against the Central African Republic on June 10 in Kumasi.

Meanwhile, Van Dijk is preparing to compete in the 2024 European Championship with the Netherlands.

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