By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Ghana have suffered another setback ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign after Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo withdrew from the Black Stars squad through injury.
Semenyo has been ruled out of Ghana’s opening qualifier against Côte d’Ivoire after suffering a swollen ankle, according to reports from 3Sports. The injury comes at an unfortunate time for the forward, who has made an impressive start to the new season with Manchester City.
The 26-year-old has established himself as one of Ghana’s key attacking options and his absence leaves head coach Carlos Queiroz with another major selection headache ahead of Thursday’s meeting with the Elephants in Bouaké.
Semenyo’s withdrawal adds to a growing list of important absentees for the Black Stars. Ghana are also without Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey, leaving Queiroz to reorganise his squad before the start of the qualifying campaign.
Ghana will travel to the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on September 24 for their opening Group C fixture against Côte d’Ivoire before returning home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 27.
The Black Stars are looking to secure a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the 2025 edition. Queiroz will now have to rely on his remaining attacking options as Ghana begin another qualification campaign with several established players unavailable.
Semenyo’s injury will also be closely monitored by Manchester City, given the forward’s growing importance to the Premier League champions. For Ghana, however, attention now turns to finding a way to cope without one of their most in-form attacking players when they face Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké.
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