Black Stars winger Antoine Semenyo has urged Ghana to remain grounded and focused despite their dramatic opening victory over Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana kicked off their Group L campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph at BMO Field in Toronto, thanks to a dramatic late winner from 20-year-old midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi, who tapped home in stoppage time to secure all three points for Carlos Queiroz’s side.
The victory sparked excitement among Ghanaian supporters and boosted the Black Stars’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stage, but Semenyo insists the team will not allow the result to distract them from the challenges ahead.
Attention has already shifted to Ghana’s next fixture against group favourites England, a match widely regarded as one of the biggest tests of the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign.
Speaking after being named Man of the Match against Panama, the Bournemouth forward stressed that the players are approaching the encounter with confidence but also with respect for their opponents.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game,” Semenyo said when asked about the upcoming clash with England.
“We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. We want to win that game, but we know it’s not going to be easy.”
Ghana displayed impressive tactical discipline and resilience in their opening fixture, overcoming a first-half injury scare to goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi and remaining patient before finding the decisive breakthrough in the dying moments.
The Black Stars’ determination and defensive solidity ensured they emerged with maximum points, putting them in a strong position in Group L ahead of the showdown with the Three Lions.
With three points already secured, another positive result against England could significantly boost Ghana’s chances of reaching the knockout rounds and potentially secure qualification with a game to spare.
For now, however, Semenyo and his teammates are keeping their feet firmly on the ground as they prepare for what promises to be a stern examination against one of the tournament favourites.
