Antoine Semenyo, Ghana international and forward, has revealed that he never had any hesitation in choosing to represent the Black Stars, stressing that playing for Ghana has always been a natural decision for him.
The 26-year-old explained that although he grew up in England and would occasionally hear discussions about potentially playing for the English national team, it was never a serious consideration in his household.
He disclosed that when Ghana approached him around the age of 19 or 20, the decision was immediate and firm, adding that he could not have rejected the opportunity to represent his country of heritage.
Semenyo further highlighted the strong support he receives from his parents, noting that they never pressured him toward any national team choice and have always fully backed his decision to play for Ghana.
Describing his international career as a dream come true, the forward expressed pride in wearing the national colours and shared his appreciation for the encouragement he receives from his family and supporters.
Looking ahead, Semenyo voiced confidence in the current Black Stars squad, insisting that the team possesses enough talent and depth to compete strongly at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He believes Ghana has the potential to surprise major footballing nations if the team unites and performs to its full capacity.
“My mum and dad, they never really mentioned anything about England. Obviously living in England, you get a conversation, ‘Oh, you should represent England’, but it was never a conversation I’ve ever had, really. Ghana came when I was 19 or 20, so I was never going to turn it down,” Semenyo said.
He described representing Ghana as a dream come true and spoke passionately about the support from his family. “It means a lot, just cheering on Ghana, and they’re cheering me on. It’s great support, and I just love every memory. “It’s a dream come true, to be honest.”
The 26-year-old also expressed confidence in the current Black Stars squad, believing the team has the talent to shock the world at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“There is a lot of talent in the previous Ghana sides, but I feel like now it’s coming in abundance. There are so many positions that we’ve got covered. There’s so much talent. I feel like when we come together, we are such a special group with endless talent, and I feel we can shock a lot of nations. We just need to prove to the world that we can be up there and compete with everyone else. I feel like that’s the only question right now. So once we do that, that would be the story rewritten.”
Ghana has been placed in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia, with their opening fixture scheduled against Panama on June 17.
Semenyo concluded with optimism that the current generation has an opportunity to change the narrative of Ghanaian football on the global stage.
