Former Sports Minister urges Antoine Semenyo to 'transfer' Manchester City form to Black Stars

As Ghana prepares for the 2026 World Cup, former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has urged forward Antoine Semenyo to replicate his outstanding club form for the national team, stating that he has yet to fully convince Ghanaian supporters at the international level.

Semenyo is enjoying a career-best season after his high-profile £65 million move from AFC Bournemouth to Manchester City, where he has become a key player and scored 12 Premier League goals as of early February. However, his record for the Black Stars stands at three goals in 32 appearances since his 2022 debut.

Speaking in an interview, Vanderpuye acknowledged the striker's brilliance at club level but pointed to a gap in his national team contributions.

"He’s playing wonderfully well. I would just pray that he’s able to transfer whatever he’s doing with Manchester City to the Black Stars," the former minister said. "Up to now he’s not been able to convince Ghanaians so much about his prolific performance when it comes to the Black Stars."

Vanderpuye also suggested that Semenyo's personal background could serve as a powerful motivator, particularly in Ghana's upcoming World Cup clash against England.

"You know he was born in England, and I think it is good… that is enough motivation for him to perform better when he plays the English," he added.

The comments highlight the growing expectations on Semenyo as Ghana's World Cup campaign approaches. The Black Stars, drawn in Group L with England, Croatia, and Panama, will be counting on their in-form forward to translate his Premier League excellence into decisive performances on football's biggest stage and help the team progress from the group phase.

Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.

Read Full Story