The Black Stars’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign has taken another devastating blow, with Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo ruled out for up to eight weeks following a knee injury sustained in last Saturday’s Premier League victory over Ipswich Town. The prognosis, confirmed by City manager Enzo Maresca, rules out the Ghana international from Ghana’s next two Group C qualifiers—against Somalia on November 11 and 15—just as the Black Stars desperately seek to reverse their disastrous start to the campaign.
Ghana’s qualifying woes have been exposed in brutal fashion. A 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in their opening match was followed by a 4-2 humiliation at the hands of The Gambia, leaving the Black Stars two points behind Group C leaders and already facing the prospect of a second consecutive AFCON campaign without a single point in the opening fixtures. Semenyo, who has become a linchpin in Ghana’s attack with his pace, direct running, and ability to create scoring opportunities, was already absent from those early defeats. His absence now extends into the next crucial window, leaving interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren and his staff scrambling for alternatives in what was already a precarious situation.
The injury’s timing couldn’t be worse. With the Somalia double-header serving as the Black Stars’ last chance to salvage something from Group C, the loss of Semenyo—who had been expected to provide both creativity and finishing threat—leaves Ghana’s forward line significantly weakened. The team’s struggles in transition and defensive fragility have been well-documented, and without Semenyo’s physicality and goal threat, the Black Stars will struggle to generate the required goals in the coming matches. The injury also complicates Manchester City’s own schedule, as Semenyo is now unlikely to feature in the club’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Arsenal or their Champions League clash with Barcelona in December.
Maresca’s assessment of the injury—initially feared to be more severe—offers a glimmer of hope for Semenyo’s long-term recovery, but the immediate impact on Ghana’s qualifying hopes is undeniable. The Black Stars’ campaign was already in freefall before this setback, and without a turnaround in form or a tactical adjustment that compensates for Semenyo’s absence, the team’s chances of advancing from Group C will be further diminished. For a side that has relied on his leadership and attacking output, the loss of their most experienced Premier League-based player at this juncture is a blow that could prove fatal in the quest to qualify for the 2027 tournament.
