Semenyo sits out Black Stars games to recover from foot injury, Okraku explains decision

Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has clarified the reasoning behind forward Antoine Semenyo's withdrawal from the Black Stars squad for the upcoming international break, revealing that the player and head coach Carlos Queiroz jointly agreed the injury required priority treatment over national team duties.

Semenyo, who impressed over the weekend with two goals and an assist for his club, has been ruled out of Ghana's three fixtures: the AFCON 2027 qualifier against Côte d'Ivoire, a match against Gambia, and a friendly against Morocco in early October. The decision centres on a foot injury causing significant swelling that Okraku says needs proper recovery time.

The injury and recovery decision

Speaking on Asempa FM, Okraku explained the communication between player and coaching staff. "Antoine and the coach spoke, and he told the coach, 'If you need me, I will come down for the medical team to re-examine me. But the truth is that my leg is swollen, and we need to treat it," Okraku said.

Rather than have Semenyo travel to Ghana for medical assessment and then return without being able to play, the GFA leadership opted to allow him to continue recovery with his club. Okraku emphasised the logic of this approach: "As a leader, if you want to know your players—and in this particular case, we know the players and how honest they are when it comes to situations like this—you'd have to ask yourself whether you'd allow Antoine to continue with his recovery and be ready for Man City and for Ghana during the next window, or have Antoine fly down to Ghana to undergo an MRI and then ask him to go back because he can't play."

Why it matters for Ghana

This decision reflects a pragmatic shift in how the GFA manages player welfare during international breaks. Semenyo is a key player for the Black Stars, and his availability for both Manchester City and Ghana's future fixtures was prioritised over short-term squad depth for these particular matches. The AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign still has several windows ahead, and maintaining the fitness of important attacking players is crucial for long-term campaign success.

The transparent communication between Semenyo, coach Queiroz, and the GFA also suggests improved player management protocols. Rather than forcing players to choose between club and country commitments or risk aggravating injuries, the framework allows honest dialogue about fitness levels. This approach may reduce injury escalation and build greater trust between players and the federation.

Ghana's September-October schedule

The Black Stars will travel to Bouaké for their AFCON qualifier against Côte d'Ivoire on Thursday before returning to Ghana to face Gambia. They conclude the break with a friendly against Morocco in Tangier on 4 October. Without Semenyo, Carlos Queiroz will need to adjust his attacking options, though Ghana's squad possesses alternative forward talent for these fixtures.

The outcome of this international break will provide insight into squad depth and tactical flexibility as Ghana progresses through its AFCON qualifying campaign.