Henry Asante Twum says it is unfortunate that Antoine Semenyo faced unwarranted criticism
GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum says it is unfortunate that Antoine Semenyo faced unwarranted criticism over his withdrawal from the Black Stars squad, insisting that Bournemouth’s confirmation of the forward’s injury has validated the association’s position.
His comments come after days of debate surrounding the legitimacy of injuries reported during the international break.
Fans and some pundits had questioned whether players were genuinely unavailable or simply avoiding friendly fixtures.
The scrutiny intensified when Semenyo appeared in photographs proposing to his partner shortly after Ghana’s defeat to South Korea, fueling speculation that his departure from camp was not injury-related.
Responding to the backlash, Asante Twum wrote on Facebook, “I am pleased that the AFC Bournemouth coach has finally confirmed the news about Antoine. He arrived in Japan with an ankle injury, which is why we allowed him to return to his club after the match against Japan. Regrettably, he faced undue criticism. Here’s to a swift recovery for Antoine.”
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola later revealed that Semenyo was dealing with an ankle problem even before the international break, and he remains doubtful for the Cherries’ Premier League clash against West Ham on November 22.
Semenyo played in Ghana’s 2-0 loss to Japan but exited camp before the South Korea match, which ended 1-0 against the Black Stars.
