Having made differing starts to their top flight journeys, Bechem United and Medeama now prepare to lock horns in Sunday's Ghana Premier League blockbuster at Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.
Hearts of Oak will hit the road to play as guests to newly-promoted side Young Apostles FC in what will be a tricky match-week six clash at the Nana Abrefa Nketiah VII Park on Sunday, October 13.
Ghanaian club Asante Kotoko SC has officially confirmed that two of their players, Esmat AbdalHamid Mohamed and ObdoelKarem Yoouef Yagoub, both Sudanese nationals, are missing from their camp in the United States.
Antoine Semenyo's rise at AFC Bournemouth has been a journey of fantastic growth and transformation.
He has quickly become a pivotal player for the club, showcasing his rise from a promising talent to a key figure in Andoni Iraola's system.
His physical presence, natural footballing talent and tactical awareness have made him a driving force in the Cherries' attack.
Already contributing goals and assists this season, Semenyo's importance to the team nowadays is undeniable when it comes to matchdays.
As Bournemouth’s attacking line-up evolves, his energy, directness and ability to create chances have made him indispensable to the squad’s current success with his name being the first on the team sheet.
The question is: how did this remarkable transformation happen so quickly?
Antoine Semenyo has become a key player in Bournemouth’s system and has thrived since Andoni Iraola’s arrival at the club, suiting the manager’s direct, attacking system perfectly.
His speed, direct dribbling, and physicality make him a natural fit for the high press and he sees much success from it as a result.
Playing across the front line, Semenyo’s footballing ability adds quality to the field with his ball-carrying ability and strength combined.
Semenyo easily shrugs off opponents and often breaks defensive lines, allowing Bournemouth to exploit transitions - a key part of the club’s style of play.
One of the key features of the Ghanaian is the ability to cut inside, beat defenders and power a shot towards goal, which has seen him score plenty of goals as a result.
But he is just as comfortable running down the line and this is mainly down to his equal competence with both feet, leaving defenders wondering which way he will turn and whether there is a shot incoming or not.
During defensive phases, he is relentless at pressing, making him vital in Iraola’s counter-pressing tactics and a key asset within the system.
Whilst his finishing still needs refining, Semenyo's movement off the ball and his work in link-up play help create opportunities for teammates.
It is this array of qualities that make him a class player for the club, providing buckets of quality to the side and executing Iraola’s tactics to great effect.
When Semenyo made the switch from Bristol City to Bournemouth in January 2023, he initially struggled a little to adapt to the new environment of a Premier League club.
Bournemouth, under the management of Gary O’Neil at the time, operated with a far more defensive, conservative system compared to what Semenyo is used to playing now.
This limited the attacking opportunities available to him, making it difficult for him to truly express his abilities on the pitch and convert them into goal contributions.
Adjusting to Premier League football was another challenge; stepping up to the top flight from the Championship can be daunting for many players, and Semenyo was no exception.
In his early appearances, he often appeared out of sync with the pace and physicality of the league, which was reflected in his output.
Although game time was limited, Semenyo did manage to make a notable impact by scoring his first Premier League goal in a 4-1 victory against Leeds United in front of a home crowd.
The goal was an important milestone, but it did not fully capture the struggles he faced in adapting to the system.
During this period, his decision-making seemed uncertain and he lacked the confidence to be as direct or decisive as he needed to be.
Whether it was holding onto the ball for too long or hesitating in key moments, it was clear that Semenyo required further development to improve his game.
His play appeared hesitant, showing flashes of potential but also indicating the need for more guidance and refinement, and, perhaps, a new system to work under.
These early performances reflected a player in need of polish, both in terms of confidence and tactical awareness, as he sought to establish himself at the top level of English football.
Semenyo’s transformation from his debut Premier League season to the last campaign has been remarkable.
In his second season, he evolved both physically and mentally, shedding his early uncertainty and emerging as a powerful, confident presence on the pitch.
It was evident from the first game that Semenyo had bulked up, using his superior strength to dominate defenders and assert himself in duels.
Beyond his physical development, the Ghanaian seemed to thrive in ‘Iraola ball’, which perfectly complemented his natural talents and direct running style.
Iraola’s tactical approach harnessed Semenyo’s strengths, refining his off-the-ball movement and pressing ability.
Semenyo quickly adapted, becoming integral to Bournemouth’s attack, and being almost undroppable.
His growth was reflected in his impressive stats last season, where he netted eight goals and provided two assists in 33 games.
Standout performances against the likes of Newcastle United and Luton Town, in a famous 4-3 Bournemouth win, cemented his status as one of the team’s key players.
Now, Semenyo is not only a regular starter but also a player fans expect to see on the team sheet one hour before kick-off.
This season, Semenyo has already netted three goals and added an assist in seven games, stepping up after Dominic Solanke’s departure.
With Bournemouth needing fresh attacking outlets, Semenyo has embraced his new role, offering creativity and a direct approach that has sparked key moments for the Cherries.
His performances have cemented him as a crucial figure for the team’s success.
With Semenyo fast becoming a rising star, fans will hope they can keep hold of a player who seems destined to shine even brighter on bigger stages.
This article was originally published by Vavel.com on 12 October 2024. Read the full article on Vavel.com
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has addressed supporters' calls for Ghana international Abdul Fatawu Issahaku to take a more prominent role in the squad.
The 20-year-old played a pivotal role in the Foxes' promotion to the Premier League, delivering exhilarating performances on the flank alongside Stephy Mavididi under former manager Enzo Maresca.
However, the two wide players have yet to start together in this Premier League season, with Issahaku included in the lineup for the first three matches, while Mavididi has been featured in the starting eleven for the subsequent four games.
Cooper’s preference for a winger capable of also playing as an attacking midfielder has led to Facundo Buonanotte, Jordan Ayew, or Bobby De Cordova-Reid occupying the opposite wide position.
While fans of the club initially questioned Mavididi’s absence in the early weeks of the campaign, there are now growing calls for Issahaku to reclaim his starting position, as fans express a desire to see last season's successful wide duo play together again.
Although Ghanaian forward has been introduced as a substitute in every match, his playing time has been limited recently, appearing only in stoppage time against Everton and Arsenal, and featuring for the final 10 minutes against Bournemouth.
In a recent interview, Cooper addressed the ongoing discussions about the young winger's role within the team.
“That question could be for anybody who doesn’t start. We have a squad. Everybody’s working hard. We have a team that will start and players that will finish. Three or four games ago, it was Stephy. Now it’s Abdul. It could be Kasey (McAteer). It’s a normal question to ask, I understand that. But the question should really be about Stephy and not Abdul. Next week will be somebody else," he said as per Leicester Mercury.
He further stressed the competitive nature of the squad, noting, “What I do know is that we have a group that are really working hard in training, fighting for the shirt. Some guys deserve more opportunities than they’ve been given, but we’ve got the numbers that we’ve got. We’re trying to manage all that in a positive way. The guys are doing that; they’re putting the team first.”
He also praised Issahaku, stating, “Abdul’s a really good young player, really exciting, a good attitude, a nice kid, and he’s got a really bright future in front of him.”
Issahaku has made seven appearances for Leicester this season, starting three of those matches and averaging 39 minutes of play per game. While he has yet to find the back of the net, he has registered one assist.
Former Black Stars midfielder, Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu is of the view that Ghana can regain its lost football glory if the junior national teams and the Ghana Premier League are developed.
