Semenyo says Cape Verde’s World Cup success was no surprise
Ghana and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo says Cape Verde’s impressive run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup did not surprise African players who had previously faced the island nation. Cape Verde emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest surprise packages, advancing beyond the group stage as part of a historic campaign for African football. […]
Antoine Semenyo, the Ghana and Manchester City forward, claims that Cape Verde’s impressive performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was no surprise. The African island nation made a historic run, advancing beyond the group stage as part of a remarkable campaign for African football. Nine of the 10 African nations at the tournament successfully progressed to the knockout stages, with Morocco even reaching the quarter-finals.
Semenyo, who previously faced Cape Verde in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, recalls the team's exceptional quality and believes this further solidifies their place among Africa's top sides. The 26-year-old expressed his thoughts on the matter to CNN Sports during Manchester City's pre-season tour at the Hong Kong Football Festival.
Cape Verde's strong showing at the World Cup is a testament to the rapid growth of African football, potentially reshaping global perceptions of the continent's teams. Semenyo anticipates that the progress at the 2026 World Cup will help African football continue to evolve and compete at the highest levels. The team will now look ahead to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where they will take on Mali, Rwanda, and Liberia in Group K.
Written by urgent.news from Adom Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
