Football is a constantly evolving game. From the fast-paced, swashbuckling style of the 90s to the more methodical, possession-based movement of the late 2010s, the beautiful game rarely stands still. Yet, amid all these changes, one theme remains constant in every successful team—they know how to mix it up. Think of Fergie’s United from 2006–2009 or Mourinho’s Chelsea in the early 2000s.
Every great team has a philosophy, but within that framework lies room for evolution. It makes them unpredictable and allows them to shift the dynamics of a game with subtle tactical adjustments. The 2026 World Cup is fast approaching, and many countries already have a set system and style. Ghana is no different, with Otto Addo opting for a more transition-based approach. Within this, however, lies a lot of flexibility, giving Addo the freedom to catch opponents off guard—a strategy that fueled an impressive World Cup qualifying campaign.
At the heart of this tactical unpredictability is none other than Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.
For many, Semenyo hasn’t exactly shone in the World Cup qualifiers. With a solitary goal and no assists to his name, his output has left much to be desired. Some have suggested that his position as a striker might be the problem. While that’s a fair point, Semenyo should not be written off just yet. This article explores just why.
Strengths – In Possession
Attribute: Finishing
Key to Attribute: Two-footedness
Every defending full-back has one primary goal — to force the attacker onto their weaker foot. Most forwards usually have one foot that’s just for standing on. The most dangerous ones, however, can cause havoc with either. Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé come to mind when talking about this very trait.
Antoine Semenyo should be part of that conversation too.
In the picture above, Semenyo — highlighted in the green circle — has only one teammate arriving in the box. Most attackers would turn back or wait for support in this situation. The Chelsea back line has successfully denied him the option to cut inside, and the opposing full-back couldn’t have defended it any better.
Semenyo decides to take the initiative, shifting the ball quickly onto his left foot. He really has only one route to goal, as shown by the arrow. But Chelsea defender Joshua Acheampong is no slouch, closing down the space quickly to get a solid block in. If, somehow, Semenyo manages to get the shot past him, it would take an outrageous amount of power and precision to beat Robert Sánchez in goal.
In sports, the margins between being good and reaching the next level are incredibly small. In football, those details are even finer. There are certain nuances that are impossible to spot in real time, yet they make all the difference.
To generate a high amount of power when striking the ball, the general consensus is that a greater backlift helps produce greater force. In simple terms, the more a player swings the leg backward before contact, the more power they can generate—much like an archer pulling a bowstring farther to shoot an arrow faster. The drawback, however, is that it gives defenders extra time to close down the space before the shot is released.
Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane defy this logic. They can generate astonishing power with minimal backlift. Some players are naturally blessed with the ability to contract and release muscle force explosively, making this kind of strike second nature. Training can enhance it, but there’s always a physical ceiling—just as a naturally slower athlete can improve speed but may never match the fastest sprinters.
Semenyo, however, has no such limitation. His ability to produce power with almost no backlift gives him a crucial advantage. Here, his rapid movement leaves Acheampong no time to get a block in.
The ball flashes past Robert Sánchez almost before he’s aware of the shot. In a sequence that began with no support and little space, Semenyo conjures a goal from absolutely nothing.
Another key to Semenyo’s explosive shooting lies in how he keeps his shoulders over the ball. The blend of minimal backlift, forward lean, and natural muscle speed creates a devastating motion the best replicate. For Semenyo, it happens far too often to be called luck — it’s instinct.
In this scenario, Semenyo first recognises the amount of space he is in. Simple? Not really. Plenty of strikers miss that cue — Semenyo doesn’t. He knows exactly where he is, and that awareness tells him what to do next: shoot.
The Premier League is arguably the most fast-paced league in the world. You barely have time to think, and spaces close down in an instant. The best attackers, however, aren’t just quick in their decision-making — they’re efficient in their execution.
Here, Semenyo spots the gap between two Leicester defenders and drives the ball low through the space. It’s his execution that makes the difference. Watch how he keeps his knees and shoulders over the ball, striking with minimal backlift once again — giving the defenders no chance to get a block in. This time, he uses his right foot. The Leicester goalkeeper is unsighted, and any low shot in that situation is a nightmare to deal with. Exactly as it proves to be.
Just like the previous example, the ball flashes past the keeper before he knows it.
One of the biggest advantages of being two-footed is the unpredictability it brings — every defender’s nightmare. Defenders love forcing attackers onto their weaker side, but with Semenyo, that’s nearly impossible. Keep him on his right and he’s lethal; show him onto his left and he’s just as comfortable.
In this moment, Ugochukwu steps up to block what he expects to be a predictable shot — but against Semenyo, nothing ever is.
He chops back brilliantly to open up space, eliminating four Southampton players in the process. It’s one thing to be two-footed, but it’s another to understand when and how to use it. Semenyo judges the situation perfectly — with traffic crowding his line of sight, he knows a clean shot isn’t possible, so he shifts the ball back onto his right.
It’s skill with purpose.
He drives the ball low and hard to the far corner, with ferocious powergiving the keeper no chance again.
Semenyo once again finds himself one-on-one with a defender, this time with time and space to operate. His opponent, Joachim Andersen of Fulham, does what every defender is taught to do — show the attacker down the touchline and block the route inside.
Semenyo squares him up, positioning himself as if to drive into the space Andersen has left open — or so it seems.
He feints, then steps inside brilliantly to open up the angle — and curls the ball past Bernd Leno with his left foot.
Andersen, like the defenders in the previous examples, actually defends the situation well. But when a player can go either left or right, it’s almost impossible to stop — and psychologically draining for any back line.
With Semenyo, defences can’t play the usual game of chance and probability. Every shot — whether on his left or right foot — carries real danger. That forces defenders to fully commit to every block; they can’t afford to leave space on either side. In doing so, they often over-commit and hope their teammates provide cover.
This creates all kinds of problems. One feint or chop from Semenyo can open a world of possibilities simply because he’s equally confident on both feet. Opposition players are dragged out of position, abandoning their marks just to close his angle — Dango Outtara is left free as a bird in the image above.
It’s undoubtedly one of the greatest weapons in Semenyo’s arsenal — but certainly not the only one.
Since the start of last season, Semenyo has scored seventeen league goals — ninth-most in that span — while playing everywhere across the front line. Eight with his left, eight with his right, one with his head. You’d struggle to find a more two-footed forward.
ATTRIBUTE:DRIBBLING
KEY TO ATTRIBUTE: STRENGTH, AWARENESS
In the modern game, the high press has become second nature. Almost every team employs it — after all, the closer you win the ball to your opponent’s goal, the higher your chances of scoring.
But pressing comes with its pitfalls. If even one player beats the press, it can unravel the entire structure. Since most teams press man-to-man, one dribble or sharp turn can open a world of space.
That’s why players who can carry the ball under pressure are gold dust. And few in Europe do it better than Antoine Semenyo.
Here, Semenyo finds himself with time and space on the ball. With his back to goal, Lucas Paquetá spots a chance to pounce. But before the Brazilian can close him down, Semenyo takes a quick glance over his shoulder — a small detail that makes all the difference. In that split second, he gains a full picture of his surroundings, arming himself with the information to turn the press into an advantage.
As Paquetá races in to nick the ball, Semenyo shifts it cleverly to the opposite side. The movement looks simple but it’s perfectly timed — it drags Paquetá’s body weight onto his right leg, making it almost impossible for him to change direction in time.
By virtue of that quick glance over his shoulder, the Ghanaian international slips past his marker and opens the play up. It’s not flashy or eye-catching — but it doesn’t need to be. His awareness alone makes all the difference.
Once again, Semenyo finds himself with his back to goal — this time with his opponent tight behind him, breathing down his neck. The touchline offers the defender an added advantage, almost acting as a second marker, narrowing Semenyo’s options and limiting his space to turn.
Tall players are naturally easier to knock off the ball. Their height gives them a higher centre of gravity, making it easier for opponents to disrupt their balance or turn their bodies with contact. In simpler terms, they’re less stable because their centre of mass — where most of their weight lies — sits farther from the ground.
However, players with broader hips and stronger quads have stockier lower bodies, which lowers their centre of gravity and improves balance, making them harder to push off the ball. Didier Drogba and Karim Benzema are classic examples of this physical blend.
Standing at 6 feet and weighing 79kg, Semenyo possesses that same rare combination. He’s tall enough to compete aerially, yet compact and powerful enough to hold defenders off with ease. In the image above, as his marker closes in, he widens his stance and keeps his feet firmly planted — allowing him to shield the ball effectively and spin away with control.
Here, Semenyo finds himself shoulder to shoulder with one of the most physically imposing full-backs in Premier League history — Kyle Walker.
Few attackers manage to hold their own against Walker in a direct duel, but Semenyo’s balance and lower-body strength allow him to match the Manchester City defender stride for stride.
He strikes first, leaning his body firmly into Walker’s frame. One key detail, again, makes all the difference — watch how he widens his stance as he makes contact. This subtle adjustment anchors him, lowering his centre of gravity and allowing him to absorb Walker’s strength rather than be pushed off balance.
The combination allows him to shrug off the England international with ease. But he doesn’t stop here.
Semenyo’s sheer strength knocks Walker off balance, allowing the Ghanaian international to burst past him and carry the ball forward.
Many people equate dribbling with fanciful footwork, but in essence, it’s simply about getting past your opponent — how you do it doesn’t really matter, as long as you do. Semenyo may not rely on endless stepovers and roulettes, though he certainly has them in his locker; instead, he beats players with a blend of pace, power, strength, and, most importantly, awareness.
In all the examples above, it rarely takes him more than two or three touches to burst past a defender — minimal touches, maximum impact. He’s as efficient as they come in the art of beating a marker. Not many players can send Kyle Walker tumbling, and what’s even more impressive is the technique he used to do it.
Players like Morgan Rogers and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among the hardest to knock off the ball — and Semenyo, the London-born Ghanaian, belongs firmly in that elite conversation. Since the start of last season, no attacker in the Premier League has won more duels than Antoine Semenyo — a staggering 274. He also ranks second in successful dribbles with 81. Strong and can get past you at will. Every defender’s nightmare.
STRENGTH -OUT OF POSSESSION
ATTRIBUTE: MOVEMENT AND BOX PRESENCE
KEY TO ATTRIBUTE: GAME INTELLIGENCE, RUNNING POWER
For all their great work, strikers who score most of their goals inside the box — through tap-ins and close-range finishes — often don’t get the credit they deserve. And it’s easy to see why. Compared to skilful flicks or long-range screamers, tapping the ball in from three yards out doesn’t exactly scream excitement.
There are even those who believe players like Erling Haaland aren’t anything special — that their goals are simply the by-products of the countless chances their teams create or, worse still, just luck.
But it isn’t luck that the ball always seems to fall to these players in crowded penalty areas — it’s intelligence of the highest order.
Semenyo may not yet belong to that elite category, and that fuels the argument that he can’t lead the line for the Black Stars. However, a closer look at his performances suggests otherwise — he has all the tools required to thrive as Ghana’s number nine. Let’s take a look.
Here, against Manchester United, Semenyo finds himself outnumbered in the centre of the box. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, and Diogo Dalot are all well-positioned to cut out any potential run. On paper, they have everything covered.
One of the hardest things to do in life is to stand still. We live in a world of constant movement, so doing the exact opposite — doing nothing — is far from easy. As humans, we’re naturally wired to look ahead, to keep moving toward the next thing. But sometimes, that’s exactly what’s needed: a moment to pause, observe, and assess.
In football, it’s no different. The best strikers know when to move — and when not to.
Semenyo recognises here that every Manchester United player in the box is fixated on Dango Ouattara. He can clearly see the shirt numbers of Maguire and Martínez. Statistically, he’s outnumbered — but in reality, he’s in control.
The threat of Ouattara possibly taking a shot has drawn the entire United backline’s attention away from Semenyo. Instead of bursting forward to get closer to goal, he deliberately slows down, drifting just out of the defenders’ eyeline.
He uses their natural defensive instinct against them — their urge to close down the immediate threat. By standing still, he effectively disappears. In their minds, at that moment, he doesn’t even exist.
Martinez here looks like he can get a block in on Semenyo’s incoming shot — but it’s near impossible. That’s because Semenyo was never in the equation until, suddenly, he appears right in front of the Argentinian. Watch how Martinez’s body remains shifted toward Ouattara’s direction; he simply can’t turn in time to face the Ghanaian. All his body weight is on one side — away from the Bournemouth star. By the time he reacts, it’s already too late.
The ball flashes past Onana before he can even move. So yes, when looking in real time, it looks like an easy finish — an easy tap-in. The process of getting into that position though, is anything but. One clever decision to stand still changed the entire picture. A lot of strikers would run ahead and probably get blocked off. Semenyo shows excellent awareness and game intelligence — attributes every great striker needs to succeed.
Here, Semenyo finds himself in the box again — this time against Everton. He already knows he has the upper hand over his marker; after all, he can see the number on the defender’s back. That simple detail gives him control. It means any attempt to track his movement will come too late, allowing him to steal a march on his man. Instead of darting toward the near post, he holds his ground in the middle. Moments later, that decision proves to be a masterstroke.
The ball is played right into the space he’s occupying — perfectly timed, perfectly placed — and Semenyo is there to finish it off. Once again, it might look like an easy goal on the surface, but it’s the movement that makes it possible.
Against Liverpool, in the curtain raiser of the season, Bournemouth find themselves in a 3v3 situation. Semenyo, highlighted with the white circle, spots acres of space ahead of him and makes his move. What’s crucial here is his awareness — he knows he doesn’t need to linger behind Liverpool’s backline. As long as he’s in line with David Brooks, he’s onside. From this point, it becomes a simple question: who wants it more? Who has the physical edge to eat up the ground and attack that open space first?
Before the ball is crossed, the Ghanaian finds himself positioned just behind Virgil van Dijk. But rather than rushing ahead, he deliberately slows his run, choosing to stay out of the defender’s immediate line of sight — and that split-second decision pays massive dividends.
From being behind to suddenly getting ahead of the Dutchman in a matter of seconds — it’s all down to patience and timing. By waiting, biding his time, and then darting in behind, Semenyo catches his defender completely off guard and scores. And not just any defender — arguably the best in the league.
In Ghana’s final group game against Comoros, Semenyo finds himself in acres of space at the back post. He doesn’t finish the move — Mohammed Kudus does — but it’s a perfect illustration of how good his movement is in the box.
Too often, players are judged solely on goals and assists, yet those numbers rarely tell the full story. Otto Addo is right to keep faith in his forward. Semenyo may not have set the world alight in a Ghana shirt just yet, but the signs are clear — he has all the makings of a reliable frontman.
Since the start of last season, Semenyo ranks third in the Premier League for most touches in the opposition box, with an impressive 253. If that doesn’t scream “striker,” then honestly, what does.
There’s a saying that good things come to those who wait. Cristiano Ronaldo needed 26 appearances to score his first Champions League goal. Now, I’m not saying Semenyo is in that category, but it’s clear he has star written all over him. Ghana has a real gem on their hands — one who only needs patience and belief to truly shine in the Black Stars jersey.
Every Ghana fan should keep the faith in the Bournemouth man. He has all the tools to become a talisman for years to come.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Source: myjoyonline.com
