Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo has urged his teammates to remain grounded following Ghana’s dramatic victory over Panama, insisting the team must stay focused as they prepare for a crucial clash against England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana kicked off their Group L campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Panama at BMO Field in Toronto on Wednesday. Just when the match seemed destined to end in a stalemate, Caleb Yirenkyi produced a stoppage-time winner to hand the Black Stars a vital three points and a dream start to their World Cup journey.
While the result sparked celebrations among Ghanaian supporters, Semenyo believes the team cannot afford to lose sight of the bigger picture with two demanding group-stage fixtures still ahead.
The Bournemouth attacker, who delivered an outstanding performance and was named Man of the Match, emphasized that the squad is already turning its attention to the challenge posed by England.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game,” Semenyo stated when questioned about the Three Lions.
The Ghana international stressed that confidence from the Panama victory should not be mistaken for complacency, as the Black Stars remain fully aware of the quality that awaits them in their next outing.
“We are not going to be ahead of ourselves. We want to win that game, but we know it’s not going to be easy,” he added.
The victory over Panama has placed Ghana in a promising position in Group L, but the Black Stars know their toughest assignments are still to come. Carlos Queiroz’s side will face England at Gillette Stadium on June 23 before concluding their group-stage campaign against Croatia on June 27.
With momentum on their side and belief growing within the camp, Ghana will be aiming to build on their winning start and strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the first time since their memorable run to the quarter-finals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
For now, however, Semenyo’s message is clear: enjoy the victory, remain humble and focus fully on the next challenge.
