Emmanuel Adebayor Backs Manchester City Forward Antoine Semenyo for Stardom

Adebayor Backs Semenyo for Greatness

Former Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor believes Antoine Semenyo has what it takes to become the star player at the club. Semenyo moved to City from Bournemouth in January on a five and a half year contract. He has quickly become a regular under new manager Enzo Maresca.

Adebayor revealed that the Ghana forward regularly reaches out to him for guidance. The former Arsenal forward told him to play without pressure and trust his ability. He noted that City would have held many meetings before deciding to sign him.

"At some point, he will become the best and a key player for the team," Adebayor said.

Strong Start to the Season

Semenyo is already making an impact this season. He started all five of City's opening Premier League matches. On Saturday, he scored two goals and set up another in a 5-3 victory against Sunderland.

Those were his first league goals of the season, adding to the two assists he recorded in his first four matches. Before his big move to City, the 26 year old scored 10 Premier League goals for Bournemouth. He also had earlier spells with clubs like Bristol City, Bath City, Newport County, and Sunderland.

Ghana Missing Key Experience

While Semenyo is thriving at club level, his national team faces a tough challenge. Ghana is preparing for a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast. However, the squad is missing several key players.

Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus, Baba Rahman, and Jordan Ayew have all withdrawn from the team. Adebayor warned that these absences leave Ghana without the experience needed for such a big game. He explained that players like Kudus help keep the younger squad members calm and focused.

Helping the Next Generation

Adebayor also shared how he helped Auxerre defender Marvin Senaya choose to represent Ghana over Togo. Senaya, who was eligible for both nations, received call ups from both sides in March.

The former Real Madrid striker advised Senaya to choose Ghana because they had already qualified for the World Cup. Senaya took the advice and played in all four of Ghana's World Cup games. He is currently recovering from an injury sustained during a round of 32 loss to Colombia.