Antoine Semenyo was warmly welcomed with a special guard of honour by his Ghana Black Stars teammates and staff upon arriving at the national team camp in Vienna on Monday, March 23, 2026, fresh from helping Manchester City lift the Carabao Cup the day before.
The dynamic forward played a significant role in City’s successful Carabao Cup campaign, contributing key performances—including vital goals in earlier rounds—before the side capped it all off with a commanding 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, March 22.
That win not only secured the silverware for Pep Guardiola’s team but also etched Semenyo’s name into the history books as only the second Ghanaian player, after the legendary Michael Essien, to lift the Carabao Cup.
Fresh from the celebrations and with the winner’s medal still warm in his pocket, Semenyo wasted little time in making the journey to Austria, arriving less than 24 hours after the final whistle to link up with his international teammates.
The Black Stars had opened their camp on Sunday under the guidance of head coach Otto Addo, with an initial group of players already on site gearing up for a pair of prestigious pre-World Cup friendlies: first against hosts Austria on Friday, March 27, at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium, followed by a stern test against Germany in Stuttgart on Monday, March 30. These matches form a crucial part of Ghana’s preparations as they build momentum toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
In a touching display of unity and pride that quickly went viral across social media, Semenyo’s Black Stars teammates and staff rolled out the red carpet—quite literally—upon his arrival.
They formed a guard of honor, lining up in two rows and applauding enthusiastically as the jubilant forward walked through the tunnel of teammates, many of them beaming with smiles and offering high-fives or pats on the back.
The moment captured the essence of national team spirit, celebrating not just an individual achievement but a shared Ghanaian success on the global stage, with videos and photos showing Semenyo grinning from ear to ear while signing autographs for fans gathered near the training ground.
Semenyo himself has spoken openly about his hunger for more silverware, describing the Carabao Cup as merely the “first of many” and expressing confidence that Manchester City can push for further honors in the Premier League and beyond this season.
His seamless integration into the City squad since his January 2026 move from Bournemouth has been impressive, and this latest international call-up arrives at the perfect time, injecting fresh energy and proven winning mentality into Otto Addo’s setup.
As the full 26-man squad assembles—including debutants and established stars like captain Jordan Ayew—expectations are rising for the Black Stars to use these friendlies to fine-tune their cohesion and tactical approach ahead of bigger challenges on the horizon.
For Semenyo, it marks a seamless transition from club glory to national duty, underscoring his rapid rise as one of Ghana’s brightest talents.
