The “fairytale” start to Antoine Semenyo’s Manchester City career reached a new peak this week as the Ghanaian forward lifted his first major professional trophy. Just two months after his high-profile move from Bournemouth, Semenyo played a vital role in City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.
A Historic Night at Wembley
Starting on the right wing, Semenyo delivered an energetic 90-minute performance that consistently troubled the Arsenal defense. While a second-half brace from youngster Nico O’Reilly secured the win, Semenyo’s work rate and technical precision—highlighted by a 94% passing accuracy—were central to City’s dominance.
With this victory, Semenyo etches his name into the history books as only the second Ghanaian player to win the Carabao Cup, joining the legendary Michael Essien, who last won it with Chelsea in 2007.
“First of many! I’m excited, I’m happy… it feels like a fairytale if I’m honest,” Semenyo told Sky Sports after the final.
2025/26: A Season of Two Halves
Semenyo’s rise this season has been meteoric. Before his £64 million ($84M) transfer in January, he was already one of the Premier League’s most clinical forwards at Bournemouth. Since joining Pep Guardiola’s side, he has seamlessly integrated into a world-class attacking unit.
Antoine Semenyo 2025/26 Combined Stats (as of March 24, 2026):
| Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth | Premier League | 20 | 10 | 3 |
| Manchester City | Premier League | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Manchester City | Carabao Cup | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | All Competitions | 32 | 16 | 4 |
National Hero: Black Stars Welcome the Champ
There is no rest for the champion. Less than 24 hours after the final whistle at Wembley, Semenyo arrived in Vienna, Austria, to join the Ghana national team camp. In a show of solidarity, captain Jordan Ayew and his teammates gave Semenyo a guard of honor to celebrate his trophy win.
Semenyo is expected to lead the line for the Black Stars in upcoming high-profile friendlies against Austria (March 27) and Germany (March 30) as coach Otto Addo begins final preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 World Cup
Ghana has been drawn into Group L for the 2026 World Cup, often described as one of the tournament’s most challenging groups. Semenyo’s current form will be vital if the Black Stars are to navigate a group featuring:
- June 18: vs. Panama (BMO Field, Toronto)
- June 24: vs. England (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough)
- June 28: vs. Croatia (Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia)
As Semenyo sets his sights on a potential Premier League title and World Cup glory, his “fairytale” season is far from over.
