Ghana and Manchester City forward, Antoine Semenyo, has offered a surprisingly confident assessment of Cape Verde’s remarkable run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, suggesting their performance didn’t come as a surprise to African players. Cape Verde, in particular, emerged as a significant shock, progressing beyond the group stage in a historic campaign for African football, achieving a remarkable feat of advancing beyond the group stage as part of a tournament that saw nine African nations reach the knockout stages, while Morocco secured a quarter-final berth. However, Semenyo maintains that Cape Verde’s success was a natural continuation of the quality demonstrated by their already impressive African showings. The 26-year-old recalled facing Cape Verde during the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, stating, ‘I remember coming off that game thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is one of the best African teams I’ve played.’ They were so, so good. So this wasn’t any news to us, but obviously to the world it was,’ during a conversation with CNN Sports during Manchester City’s pre-season tour at the Hong Kong Football Festival.’ Cape Verde’s progress in 2026 solidified a record-breaking World Cup campaign for Africa, showcasing that continents’ leading teams can compete against some of the world’s strongest nations. Semenyo believes this signifies a significant shift in perceptions of African football and could dramatically reshape how the world views the continent’s teams. He asserted, ‘It shows African football is evolving. It shows the world we’re competing at the highest levels. Long may it continue,’ emphasizing the potential for further growth and a redefinition of African football’s standing on the global stage. Cape Verde will now focus on the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which begins in September, facing Mali, Rwanda, and Liberia in Group K. The tournament is expected to feature a strong competition, with the continent’s leading teams vying for success, and Semenyo’s observation underscores the potential for a truly exciting and dynamic World Cup.
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Source: Adom Sports
