Antoine Semenyo has called on the Black Stars to abandon their underdog mentality, insisting that Ghana possess the same level of technical quality as the world’s leading football nations ahead of their Round of 32 clash with Colombia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana will face Colombia national football team in a high-pressure knockout tie on Saturday in Kansas City, with a place in the Round of 16 at stake.
While criticism has centred on Ghana’s limited goal return during the group stage, Semenyo believes the expectations surrounding the team reflect their growing strength rather than their weaknesses.
“There is definitely pressure, but I feel like the pressure is because we’ve got such a good team. Over the years, our team has gotten so much better. Now we feel like we’re at the world stage. We want to compete with all the top nations,” Semenyo said.
Despite scoring only twice in Group L, the forward insists this Ghana side should not be viewed as inferior to any opponent at the tournament.
He pointed to the quality within the squad as evidence that the Black Stars are closing the gap on elite football nations.
“We’ve got the same talent. So why are we not up there? I feel like we’re at a stage where we’re getting there slowly, building, and hopefully in the next years to come we can compete,” he added.
Ghana are targeting a first appearance in the World Cup quarter-finals since their historic 2010 run, and Semenyo’s message is expected to serve as a major motivational boost heading into the knockout stages.
The forward, in strong club form, will be looking to translate his confidence onto the world stage as Ghana enter sudden-death football against Colombia.
