Ghana have been dealt a major setback ahead of their upcoming doubleheader against Somalia, with forward Antoine Semenyo expected to miss both matches through injury.
The Manchester City winger sustained an injury to the collateral ligament in his left knee during his side’s English Premier League encounter against Ipswich on Saturday.
Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca has indicated that the 26-year-old could be out of action for approximately eight weeks.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League fixture against AEK Athens, Maresca disclosed that initial concerns about the severity of the injury had eased following further medical examinations.
The city manager explained that scans conducted on Sunday showed the injury was not as serious as initially feared, although Semenyo would still require an extended period to recover.
Maresca stressed that the priority was to ensure the forward recovered fully, adding that his expected return in December would feel like having a new player available to the team.
Semenyo’s latest injury represents another setback for the Ghana international, who also missed the Black Stars’ September–October Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers because of an ankle problem.
His absence will be a significant concern for Ghana as they prepare for their two encounters against Somalia. The Black Stars are scheduled to play the first leg on November 11, with the return fixture set for four days later.
The 26-year-old has made an encouraging start to his Manchester City career, contributing to five goals in six starts for the club this season.
Ghana will now have to assess their attacking options ahead of the crucial fixtures without one of their key forwards.