Former Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has cautioned against building Ghana’s national team solely around in-form forward Antoine Semenyo ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, warning that over-reliance on a single player could prove costly.
Semenyo’s meteoric rise in English football — capped by a high-profile move to Manchester City and an impressive goal tally — has positioned him as a central figure in Ghana’s attacking plans. With concerns lingering over the fitness of playmaker Mohammed Kudus, public expectation has increasingly shifted towards the 26-year-old forward as the team’s potential talisman.
However, Agyemang Badu, who represented Ghana at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, has urged caution, insisting that while Semenyo remains a key asset, football at the highest level demands collective strength rather than individual brilliance.
“An anchor of the team, yes. “But building the team solely around one person, I don’t buy that idea,” Badu said during a media interaction on the sidelines of a prisons football initiative led by former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi. “What happens if he gets injured? Then your team is messed up.”
Semenyo’s club success contrasts sharply with his international record, having scored just three goals in 34 appearances for the Black Stars since his debut in 2022. That disparity has fuelled debate over whether his domestic form can translate effectively on the international stage.
Amid suggestions that head coach Carlos Queiroz could structure the team’s attack around Semenyo’s strengths, Badu emphasised the importance of squad depth, particularly from the bench.
“It’s good to have quality everywhere,” he said. “My problem is not about the starting players. I prefer a bench where, when you turn and look, you see powerful players there.”
Drawing from his experience in elite competitions, Badu noted that successful tournament teams are often defined by their depth and tactical flexibility rather than reliance on a single standout performer.
Despite his warning, the former midfielder acknowledged Semenyo’s importance to Ghana’s campaign, describing him as the team’s “poster boy” whose physicality, intelligence and versatility make him a constant threat to defenders.
“He needs space so he can progress the ball well. He uses both feet, is very strong on the ball and is a very intelligent player,” Badu explained.
He further urged Ghanaians to ease expectations on the forward, arguing that excessive pressure could hinder rather than enhance his performance.
“So for now, you rely on him, but without pressure,” he said. “He should come home, enjoy his football and help us qualify from the group.”
As Ghana prepares for the global tournament, Badu’s message underscores a broader strategic imperative — that success on football’s biggest stage will depend not just on individual brilliance but on cohesion, depth and collective execution.
Source: asaaseradio.com
