Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo has called on his teammates to remain focused and grounded after Ghana’s dramatic opening victory over Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that tougher challenges lie ahead.
Ghana kicked off their Group L campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win at BMO Field in Toronto, courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Caleb Yirenkyi. The late goal secured all three points for the Black Stars in a match that appeared destined to end in a draw.
Despite the excitement surrounding the victory, Semenyo insists the team must quickly shift its attention to its next assignment against England, one of the tournament favourites.
The Bournemouth winger, who was named Man of the Match for his impressive display against Panama, acknowledged the magnitude of the upcoming encounter and stressed the importance of maintaining the right mindset.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game,” Semenyo said when asked about facing the Three Lions.
“We are not going to be ahead of ourselves. We want to win that game, but we know it’s not going to be easy,” he added.
England also opened their World Cup campaign with victory, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown that could have a significant impact on the race for qualification from Group L.
Semenyo’s comments reflect a cautious approach within the Black Stars camp, with players determined not to allow their dramatic start to the tournament to distract them from the task ahead.
The win over Panama has given Ghana a valuable platform in the group, but the squad remains aware that securing a place in the knockout stages will require another strong performance against England before concluding the group phase against Croatia.
For now, the focus is firmly on recovery, preparation and ensuring that the momentum from the opening victory is carried into one of the most important matches of Ghana’s World Cup campaign.
