Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has cautioned against complacency ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that Panama must not be underestimated in the Black Stars’ opening group game.
The Ghana national football team will begin their campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto before taking on Croatia and England in a challenging Group L.
While much of the spotlight has been on the high-profile clash with England, Semenyo believes the opener could be just as important in shaping Ghana’s chances of progression.
“It’s a tough group because you can’t underestimate Panama,” he said. “You think it’s easy, but it’s not that easy. It will be a tough game; they won’t be a pushover.”
The forward, who is expected to play a key attacking role, stressed that Ghana’s main target is to reach the knockout stage, but admitted the task will be far from straightforward.
“Croatia and England are obviously top teams. Trying to get out of the group is what we want essentially, but it’s not going to be easy at all,” he added.
Semenyo, who represents Manchester City at club level, is set for his second World Cup appearance after featuring at Qatar 2022. He chose to represent Ghana despite being eligible for England, and continues to be a central figure in the national team setup.
“It’s going to be tough, but yeah, I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Ghana head into the tournament with a squad in transition, dealing with injuries and absences of key players. However, Semenyo remains focused on helping the Black Stars compete strongly on the global stage and push beyond the group phase.
