Bournemouth Striker Reflects on World Cup Heartbreak and Ghana’s Football Passion

Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo understands the passion and expectations that come with representing the Black Stars. In a recent interview with Premier League TV, the AFC Bournemouth star admitted that the pressure from Ghanaian fans is immense—but justified—given the team’s talent and potential.

“There’s a lot of pressure from the fans because we’ve got a good team, and we’ve got to do well. I agree with them. It’s a very good team, so there was a lot of pressure behind it,” Semenyo acknowledged.

Looking back at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he couldn’t hide his disappointment over Ghana’s loss to Uruguay, a match that could have secured their place in the knockout stages.

“I think we needed to beat Uruguay to get through. Obviously, we lost. It was just frustrating. You look into the stands, and all the fans were frustrated, angry, cussing at everyone—and that’s just the country in a nutshell. They just love football. Their week is determined by how well we do.”

Currently in top form, Semenyo is expected to be named in Otto Addo’s squad for Ghana’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar in March. With the Black Stars eager to prove themselves, Semenyo’s passion and drive could play a key role in their campaign.