Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo has surpassed Tony Yeboah‘s record for the most goals scored by a Ghanaian player in a single English Premier League season. Semenyo achieved 17 Premier League goals last season, exceeding Yeboah’s previous best of 12 goals, which Yeboah recorded during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 campaigns.
Speaking to CNN Sports, Semenyo acknowledged Yeboah as one of the players who inspired him during his youth. He mentioned, “Tony Yeboah is a player I always looked up to. Asamoah Gyan too, Didier Drogba, the names are endless.” Semenyo, who is 26 years old, expressed his motivation to become a similar source of inspiration for younger footballers.
He recalled watching his childhood heroes consistently score in the Premier League and hopes that young players will now look up to him in the same way. “To think I’m doing it now, I’m grateful to God. It’s a dream of mine to have kids looking up to me, following in my footsteps. It gives me more motivation to keep going,” Semenyo added.
Semenyo’s journey and Manchester City tenure
Born in England to Ghanaian parents, Semenyo’s path in professional football involved overcoming challenges, including playing in England’s semi-professional leagues after facing rejections. His rise to the elite level came later than for many other players.
In January, Semenyo made a move from AFC Bournemouth to Manchester City. At the time of his transfer, Pep Guardiola was the manager of Manchester City. Semenyo described himself as a player whose breakthrough in the sport occurred later in his career.
Following Guardiola’s 10-year tenure, Enzo Maresca became the new manager for Manchester City. Semenyo noted the tactical similarities between Maresca’s approach and that of his predecessor. The player indicated that the team aims to compete for every trophy available.
Semenyo praised Maresca’s tactical methods, stating that the squad has responded positively to the new manager. He observed, “He’s joined with us very, very quickly, tactically. You can see it’s very similar with our last manager.”
While acknowledging that the team will require time to fully adapt to the new system, Semenyo highlighted Maresca’s ambition and winning mentality as fitting with the squad’s aspirations. He added, “He’s driven and wants to win everything, like how we do as a team.”
International representation and future aspirations
Semenyo played every minute of Ghana‘s 2026 World Cup campaign, where the Black Stars reached the Round of 32. A notable result for the team during the group stage was a goalless draw against England.
The forward also commented on the performance of Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup, stating that their success was not a surprise to him. He believes that the results achieved by African teams at the World Cup demonstrate the continent’s progress in football. Nine of Africa’s ten representatives reached the knockout stage, with Morocco advancing to the quarter-finals.
Semenyo recalled playing against Cape Verde in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, remarking, “I remember after that match thinking, ‘My God, this is one of the best African teams I’ve played against.’ They were very, very good. So it wasn’t news to us, but it obviously was to the rest of the world.”
Regarding his Ghanaian heritage, Semenyo identified physical strength, pace, and an entertaining style of play as his primary strengths. He also expressed his appreciation for the support from Ghanaian fans and his pride in representing the country where his parents grew up. After his record-breaking Premier League season, Semenyo aims to build on his 17-goal tally and establish himself among the league’s top forwards.
He is currently preparing for the new campaign under Manchester City‘s new manager, Enzo Maresca.
Source: asaaseradio.com
Ama Serwah
Yaw Appiah
Evelyn Mensah
Kwame Ofori