Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has said the Black Stars are determined to complete the job in their final Group L match against Croatia, with qualification for the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup firmly in their sights.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Philadelphia ahead of Saturday’s decisive fixture, the Bournemouth attacker stressed the importance of finishing the group phase on a positive note as Ghana bid to reach the Round of 32.
The Black Stars enter the match in a favourable position after collecting four points from their opening two fixtures. A victory over Panama in their first game was followed by a goalless draw against England, leaving Ghana well placed ahead of their final group encounter.
Semenyo said the players were fully aware of what was at stake and were concentrating on producing the performance needed to secure progression in the tournament.
“We know how important tomorrow’s game is, so we have to finish off right and make it to the next round,” the Bournemouth attacker said.
The meeting with Croatia represents Ghana’s final opportunity to secure automatic progress from Group L, with a positive result expected to strengthen the team’s chances of advancing to the knockout phase.
The Black Stars have enjoyed a solid campaign so far, beginning with a win over Panama before earning a point against England in their second outing. Those results have left them in a strong position as they prepare for one of their biggest matches of the tournament.
Semenyo’s comments reflected the sense of focus within the Ghana camp as preparations continued ahead of Saturday’s encounter in Philadelphia. Rather than looking beyond the group stage, the forward emphasised the importance of completing the task immediately in front of the team.
Qualification for the Round of 32 would represent another significant step in Ghana’s campaign at the tournament in the United States, with the Black Stars aiming to build on their encouraging performances in the opening two matches.
The outcome of the Croatia fixture will determine whether Ghana can extend their stay at the World Cup, making it one of the defining moments of their group-stage campaign.
Having already demonstrated resilience with victory over Panama and a hard-earned draw against England, the Black Stars now have the opportunity to convert that promising start into a place in the knockout rounds.
For Semenyo and his teammates, the objective is clear. Ghana’s focus remains on delivering the result required against Croatia and ensuring their World Cup journey continues beyond the group stage as they pursue success in the competition.
