Antoine Semenyo has been sent home from Ghana duty ahead of their AFCON qualifiers against the Ivory Coast and Gambia, with Kurt Okraku saying the forward’s leg is swollen and needs treatment. Manchester City are watching closely because Liverpool are next on the schedule, and the Anfield trip comes on October 11 at 4:30pm.
Okraku’s explanation
Okraku said Semenyo spoke to the coach and offered to be re-examined if needed, but the issue was clear enough for Ghana to let him recover instead of travelling. "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," he said.
He also laid out the choice Ghana faced: allow Semenyo to continue his recovery and be ready for Man City and Ghana in the next window, or fly him in for an MRI and send him back because he could not play. That is the detail that explains the decision, and it leaves Ghana with a simple medical call rather than a discipline story.
City’s concern before Liverpool
The timing still matters for Manchester City. Semenyo was one of just five City players to play every minute of their opening five Premier League matches, and he has already produced 2 goals and 3 assists in the league this season.
His season rating of 7.11 across five appearances matches the impression that he has become a steady part of City’s start, not just a rotational option. City will want him back for the Liverpool game at Anfield, but the immediate priority is getting the swelling down and avoiding a setback before October 11.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
