Antoine Semenyo is unable to join up with the Ghana squad after earning his first international call-up for the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs against Nigeria.
The Bristol City forward was scheduled to fly to Accra on Sunday but sustained a recurrence of a previous knee injury durign their 2-2 draw against West Brom in the English Championship last Saturday.
Semenyo left the field in the sixth minute against the Baggies and, speaking after the game, Robins manager Nigel Pearson revealed the 22-year-old had “jarred his knee”.
That was four days after he had suffered cramp in the closing stages of City’s 2-0 defeat at Barnsley.
According to Bristol Live, Semenyo was assessed on Sunday and wasn’t declared fit enough to play in either of the games against the Super Eagles on March 25 and 29, due to concerns over its potential seriousness. A full report into the extent of the injury is expected later today.
It’s desperately disappointing for the young striker who has enjoyed a fantastic season for the Robins since being moved into a central striker’s role in December, and he was set to play a part for the Black Stars in these fixtures in which the winner will earn a place at Qatar 2022.
For now, Semenyo, named Championship Player of the Month for January, will have to put his international dreams on hold and focus on the short-term with potential ramifications for the rest of the season.
The former SGS College pupil underwent knee surgery at the end of last season and his start to the 2021/22 campaign was detailed by complications arising from the operation, limiting him to just 94 minutes until he returned to the squad in late November.
Ghana will be hosting the Nigerians first in Kumasi on Friday, March 25.
