Antoine Semenyo has warned Ghana against becoming complacent after their dramatic opening victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the Black Stars must remain fully focused as they prepare for a daunting test against England.
The West Africans launched their Group L campaign with a narrow 1-0 triumph over Panama at BMO Field in Toronto. After a tense and evenly balanced contest that looked destined to end without a goal, Caleb Yirenkyi emerged as Ghana’s hero, striking deep into stoppage time to hand Carlos Queiroz’s side a priceless three points.
While the late winner sparked celebrations among Ghanaian supporters, Semenyo believes the result should serve only as a platform rather than a reason for overconfidence.
The Bournemouth forward, who delivered an influential performance and walked away with the Man of the Match award, stressed that the team is already concentrating on the challenge posed by England in their next fixture.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game,” Semenyo stated when questioned about the Three Lions.
“We are not going to be ahead of ourselves. We want to win that game, but we know it’s not going to be easy,” the Manchester City forward added.
The victory over Panama has strengthened Ghana’s hopes of progressing from a competitive Group L, but sterner examinations lie ahead. A meeting with England awaits at Gillette Stadium on June 23 before the Black Stars conclude their group-stage campaign against Croatia on June 27.
Having made a positive start to the tournament, Ghana will now aim to build momentum and edge closer to a place in the knockout rounds. The four-time African champions are chasing their best World Cup performance since the historic 2010 campaign in South Africa, where they reached the quarter-finals and came within touching distance of becoming the first African nation to reach the last four.
