Cape Verde’s fairytale run in the 2026 World Cup caught a lot of people by surprise – but not Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo.
The tiny island nation’s success encapsulated Africa’s record-breaking outing in the tournament – nine out of the 10 competing African nations advanced to the knockout stages with Morocco making the quarterfinals – catapulting the continent right among the best in world soccer.
“We played against them in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022. I remember coming off that game thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is one of the best African teams I’ve played.’ They were so, so good. So this wasn’t any news to us, but obviously to the world it was,” Semenyo said in a sit-down with CNN Sports during his club’s preseason tour at the Hong Kong Football Festival.
“It shows African football is evolving. It shows the world we’re competing at the highest levels. Long may it continue.”
The 26-year-old played every minute of Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign, which saw the Black Stars reach the Round of 32, highlighted by a 0-0 draw against England in the group stages.
Semenyo had already completed a prolific season in England’s Premier League, scoring 17 league goals to take over boyhood idol Tony Yeboah’s long-standing record for most goals scored by a Ghanaian in a single season.
“Tony Yeboah is a player I always looked up to. Asamoah Gyan too, (former Ivory Coast star) Didier Drogba, the names are endless,” Semenyo said.
“When they were playing in the Premier League, scoring every week, you wanted to do the same thing as a young kid. 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.”
Source: CNN
