Antoine Semenyo names Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew as his idols

Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo has expressed his admiration for Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew, citing them as his role models.

Currently, in his second Premier League season, Semenyo has been outstanding for AFC Bournemouth, contributing eight goals and two assists thus far.

With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, featuring matches against Mali and the Central African Republic, Semenyo aims to carry his exceptional club form into his national team performances for the Black Stars.

In a conversation with Premier League TV, the 24-year-old acknowledged the significant influence of Gyan and Ayew. "Andre Ayew is actively involved with the team, and Gyan often attends games, so I have regular discussions with Dede Ayew. He encourages me to persist and reminds me that the skills I possess at my age surpass those he has. He motivates me to continually strive for higher levels," Semenyo shared.

"Asamoah Gyan echoes this sentiment, urging me to remain diligent. He advises that when opportunities arise, I should seize them, savour the moments, but also keep advancing and setting the bar higher. Growing up, these two were the icons we, as Ghanaians, looked up to during World Cups and Premier League seasons. They truly set remarkable examples," he added.

Semenyo has netted two goals for Ghana, with his most recent goal scored in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola in March 2023.

Antoine Semenyo is anticipated to be selected for the Black Stars squad for the forthcoming matches.