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Antoine Semenyo sidelined for eight weeks with knee ligament injury
•2 min read•4 sources
Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo is expected to be out of action for approximately eight weeks after sustaining a knee injury during a recent Premier League match. The Ghanaian international was forced off during City's 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium. This development serves as a significant blow to both his club and the Ghana national team as they enter a busy period of domestic and international fixtures.
Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that scans revealed a left knee collateral ligament injury, though the club expressed relief that the damage was not as severe as initially feared. Despite the positive outlook regarding the long-term prognosis, the recovery timeline means Semenyo will likely be unavailable until late December. The winger has been a key contributor for Manchester City this season, scoring five goals in his first six starts before the injury occurred.
The injury has major implications for the Ghana Black Stars, as Semenyo is now ruled out of the crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying doubleheader against Somalia in November. Ghana is currently in a difficult position at the bottom of Group C following losses to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia. Interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren will have to find alternative attacking solutions as the team fights to keep its qualification hopes alive.
While the loss of Semenyo is a setback, the national team has received some positive news regarding squad availability. Tottenham Hotspur's Mohammed Kudus has returned to the setup, and defender Mohammed Salisu is reportedly regaining match fitness. The Black Stars will need to capitalize on these returns to secure maximum points against Somalia and reverse their current standing in the group qualifiers.
