Semenyo Saw Cape Verde’s World Cup Fairytale Coming

Semenyo Saw Cape Verde’s World Cup Fairytale Coming

Cape Verde’s remarkable run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup may have surprised much of the football world, but Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo says he was not shocked by the island nation’s success. Cape Verde’s performance was part of an extraordinary tournament for African football, with nine of the 10 African teams progressing to the knockout stages. Morocco ultimately went furthest, reaching the quarter-finals. Semenyo explained that Ghana had already seen Cape Verde’s quality firsthand during the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. He recalled facing the Blue Sharks and being impressed by their ability, saying he came away from the match thinking they were among the best African teams he had played against. For Semenyo, therefore, Cape Verde’s World Cup breakthrough was not a surprise although he acknowledged that the wider football world was caught off guard. Cape Verde’s fairytale campaign formed part of what Semenyo described as evidence of the continent’s growing strength. With nine African nations reaching the knockout phase, the 2026 World Cup represented a record breaking showing for African football and provided another indication that the gap between African teams and the traditional global powers is narrowing. Semenyo believes that progress can continue, saying he hopes the success will be sustained long into the future.

The 26-year-old was also central to Ghana’s campaign, playing every minute of the Black Stars’ tournament. Ghana reached the Round of 32, with one of their standout group-stage moments coming in a 0–0 draw against England. The tournament capped an impressive season for Semenyo, who scored 17 Premier League goals, breaking Tony Yeboah’s long-standing record for the most goals scored by a Ghanaian in a single Premier League season. Semenyo’s rise has been unconventional. Born in England to Ghanaian parents, he came through the non-league and Sunday League system after being rejected by several academies. His persistence eventually led to professional football and, in January 2026, a move from Bournemouth to Manchester City. He is now preparing for the new season under manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola after Guardiola’s decade-long spell at the club. Semenyo says the new manager has quickly made an impression on the squad.