Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has eased fears over the fitness of Antoine Semenyo after the Ghana striker limped off during the closing stages of the Black Stars’ 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final Group L match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Bournemouth forward appeared to suffer an injury late in the contest at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, briefly raising concerns among Ghana supporters ahead of the team’s crucial Round of 32 clash against Colombia.
Fortunately for the Black Stars, Queiroz has confirmed that the injury is not serious and expects the in-form striker to recover in time for the knockout stage.
The reassurance comes as Ghana prepare for one of their biggest matches in recent years, with a place in the last 16 of the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup at stake.
Scare late in Croatia defeat
The injury scare occurred during the final moments of Ghana’s encounter against Croatia, a match that ultimately ended in disappointment for the Black Stars despite their qualification for the knockout stages already being secured before kick-off.
As Ghana searched desperately for another equaliser after Croatia had restored their lead, Semenyo chased a loose ball into the Croatian penalty area.
The striker went down under pressure and remained on the ground, immediately attracting the attention of Ghana’s medical staff.
With the World Cup knockout rounds just days away, the sight of one of Ghana’s most dangerous attackers receiving treatment caused understandable concern among the technical team, teammates and supporters watching around the world.
Medical personnel quickly assessed the situation while the match was temporarily halted.
Although Semenyo appeared to be in visible discomfort, the forward showed determination by getting back to his feet and continuing until the final whistle rather than asking to be substituted.
His willingness to play through the pain demonstrated both his commitment and the importance of the occasion.
Queiroz delivers positive update
Speaking during his post-match press conference, Carlos Queiroz was quick to reassure everyone that there was no reason for panic. The experienced Portuguese coach dismissed suggestions that Semenyo had suffered a serious injury.
“No, it’s just a knock; he will be alright,” Queiroz told reporters.
Those few words will come as welcome news for Ghana supporters, who recognise Semenyo’s importance to the team’s attacking plans.
The update also suggests the Black Stars medical staff are confident the injury will not keep the striker out of Ghana’s upcoming Round of 32 fixture.
With several days remaining before the Colombia clash, Semenyo is expected to recover fully after receiving appropriate treatment and rest.
A vital player for Ghana
Semenyo has become one of Ghana’s most important attacking players in recent years.
The powerful forward arrived at the World Cup after enjoying the best club season of his career, scoring 17 goals in the English Premier League during the 2025/26 campaign.
His impressive form earned widespread praise and established him as one of Ghana’s biggest attacking threats heading into the tournament.
Although he is yet to score at the World Cup, Semenyo’s performances have been characterised by relentless pressing, intelligent movement and tireless work without the ball.
Throughout the group stage, he has consistently stretched opposing defences with his pace and physical strength. His ability to create space for teammates has been equally valuable, even when goals have not arrived.
Before the Croatia match, Semenyo admitted he was eager to open his scoring account but insisted team success remained far more important than individual achievements.
“I just have to be ready at the end of the day. I’m content in terms of doing what the team needs,” he said before the game.
“I’m always on my toes and mentally ready. What the team needs is the most important, and the goals will follow.” That selfless attitude has made him a key figure in Carlos Queiroz’s tactical system.
Croatia punish Ghana mistakes
While pleased to deliver encouraging news regarding Semenyo’s condition, Queiroz was understandably disappointed with Ghana’s overall performance against Croatia. The Portuguese coach believed defensive errors ultimately proved decisive.
Croatia took the lead midway through the first half through Petar Sučić before Derrick Luckassen equalised after the break with a well-taken header on his World Cup debut. However, the Black Stars were unable to hold on.
Nikola Vlašić restored Croatia’s advantage shortly afterwards, scoring from a Luka Modrić corner to hand the European side all three points. Reflecting on the decisive moments, Queiroz felt Ghana gifted their opponents both goals.
“Croatia scored two goals, two easy goals. Much too easy the way they scored,” he explained. The experienced coach stressed that football often comes down to which team makes fewer mistakes.
“When you score one more goal than the opponent, you have the merit to win the game.”
“Simple like that. It means we make one more mistake than the opponent, and when you make one more mistake than the opponent, that is it.”
His comments reflected frustration at the nature of the goals conceded rather than dissatisfaction with his players’ overall effort.
Qualification remains the bigger picture
Despite the defeat, Ghana’s World Cup campaign remains very much alive. The Black Stars had already guaranteed qualification before kick-off after collecting four points from their opening two matches against Panama and England.
Their narrow victory over Panama and disciplined goalless draw against England proved enough to secure progression under FIFA’s expanded 48-team tournament format.
Although the defeat to Croatia denied Ghana the chance to top Group L, the Black Stars still advanced comfortably to the Round of 32. Finishing third in the group has now set up an exciting knockout meeting with Colombia.
For Queiroz, the focus immediately shifted from disappointment to preparation. After the final whistle, the Portuguese coach reminded his players that the World Cup truly begins during the knockout rounds.
He described the group stage as merely the first step and warned that every match from now onward would be decided by the smallest margins.
Attention turns to Colombia
Ghana’s next challenge promises to be significantly more demanding. The Black Stars will travel to Kansas City to face Colombia in the Round of 32.
The South Americans impressed throughout the group stage with disciplined defending, technical quality and dangerous attacking football. Colombia finished top of Group K after a goalless draw against Portugal secured first place.
They will enter the match full of confidence after avoiding defeat during the opening phase of the tournament. However, Ghana have already shown they are capable of frustrating top-quality opposition.
Their disciplined defensive performance against England demonstrated the team’s organisation under Queiroz, while their resilience throughout the group stage has strengthened belief within the squad.
Former Ghana internationals including Jonathan Mensah and Winfried Schäfer have both expressed confidence that the Black Stars possess enough quality to compete with any team if they execute their game plan effectively.
Semenyo expected to play
Assuming there are no unexpected setbacks during recovery, Semenyo is widely expected to retain his place in Ghana’s starting lineup.
His combination of pace, strength and pressing ability makes him one of the first names on Queiroz’s team sheet. Against Colombia, Ghana will likely need every available attacking weapon.
The Black Stars know chances may be limited against one of South America’s strongest defensive units. Having a fully fit Semenyo available therefore becomes even more important.
His movement behind defenders could provide Ghana with opportunities on the counterattack, while his work rate without possession will be essential in helping the team maintain its defensive structure.
Confidence remains high
Although the defeat to Croatia ended Ghana’s unbeaten start to the tournament, confidence inside the camp remains high. Captain Jordan Ayew has already insisted the loss has not damaged the players’ belief.
Several senior players have described the Croatia defeat as a valuable learning experience rather than a major setback.
Rather than dwelling on the mistakes made in Philadelphia, the coach will spend the coming days correcting defensive lapses and preparing his players mentally for the intensity of knockout football. His immediate priority, however, was ensuring there were no fresh injury concerns.
With Semenyo expected to recover fully after suffering only a minor knock, Ghana can begin preparations for Colombia knowing one of their key attacking players should be available.
That news provides a significant boost as the Black Stars seek to extend their impressive World Cup journey and continue their quest for a place among the final 16 nations competing for football’s biggest prize.
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