Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has opened up on why Antoine Semenyo performs better for Bournemouth than when he plays for Ghana.
The 25-year-old striker has been in excellent form in the Premier League, contributing 20 goals last season, 13 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances and already registering two goals and an assist in the current campaign. However, since making his Ghana debut in a 3-0 win over Madagascar in June 2022, Semenyo has only managed three goals and one assist in 27 games for the national team.
Speaking after Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Mali in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 8, 2025, Addo explained that the difference in football conditions plays a big role.
“It’s difficult to compare games from the Premier League with games in Africa and Ghana. It’s very, very difficult, and then all games have their own nature,” Addo said. “Surely you can say that he stands out more in the Premier League, but for me today he was excellent.”
Semenyo led the Black Stars’ attack against Mali but had limited chances in a tight contest. Despite that, Addo praised his effort and work rate.
“He fought until he couldn’t run anymore. Maybe he thought he could stay a little bit longer, but he was the lone fighter up front, and I’m very glad with his performance,” Addo noted.
The Ghana boss further highlighted Semenyo’s pressing and movement off the ball: “He put them under pressure, he made a lot of runs so that others can shine. Even though he didn’t have many dangerous actions, I was very satisfied with his performance and with his runs especially.”
Ghana’s win over Mali leaves them top of Group I with 19 points after eight matches. The Black Stars need just one more victory from their final two qualifiers in October against the Central African Republic and Comoros to book their ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Semenyo is expected to return to club duty when Bournemouth face Brighton at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
