Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has cautioned the Black Stars against shaping their entire World Cup strategy around the influence of one player, despite the growing excitement surrounding forward Antoine Semenyo ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With Mohammed Kudus unavailable for the tournament in North America, attention has rapidly shifted toward Semenyo, who has emerged as one of Ghana’s most in-form attacking players after an exceptional campaign in European football.
The powerful forward has seen his reputation soar in recent months following a string of impressive performances that have strengthened his status as a key figure for the national team heading into the global showpiece.
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However, Agyemang Badu believes Ghana must be careful not to place excessive responsibility on the shoulders of a single player, insisting that tournament success is built on balance, teamwork and squad depth rather than individual brilliance alone.
“An anchor of the team, yes. But building the team solely around one person, I don’t buy that idea,” Agyemang Badu, who played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, told Graphic Sports. “What happens if he gets injured? Then your team is messed up.”
The former midfielder stressed that while Semenyo’s current form can provide a major boost for the Black Stars, the technical team must ensure the squad maintains a collective identity instead of relying heavily on one attacking outlet.
Drawing from his own experience at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Agyemang Badu warned that teams overly dependent on star players often struggle when faced with the unpredictability and pressure of tournament football.
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Meanwhile, Ghana have intensified preparations for the Mundial after opening camp in Cardiff, where 22 players are currently training ahead of their international friendly against Wales on June 2.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz is expected to announce his final squad before the warm-up fixture as the four-time African champions continue fine-tuning plans for the competition.
The Black Stars will begin their Group L campaign against Panama national football team on June 17 at BMO Field before taking on England at Gillette Stadium on June 23. Ghana will then wrap up the group stage against Croatia on June 27.
The Black Stars will be hoping to secure a place in the knockout rounds for the first time since their memorable quarter-final run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
