Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has opened up about the Christian faith that guides both his personal life and football career, declaring that his relationship with God will always come before the sport.
The forward, who has several faith-inspired tattoos, revealed that he was baptised by a local pastor in December last year after waiting for an opportunity that had been delayed by the demands of his football career.
In an interview with the BBC, Semenyo described the baptism as a defining moment in his spiritual journey, saying it marked the beginning of a deeper commitment to his faith.
“I know that I am obviously walking with God at the moment, and I want to maximise my faith as much as I can, so practising gives me the opportunity to do that,” he told the BBC.
“When I got the opportunity, I made sure I took it. I am so happy I have done it and I am in the walk of faith now and it’s been amazing.”
The 25-year-old explained that prayer has become an important part of his matchday routine. Before games, he regularly prays and often joins fellow footballers Jeremy Doku and Marc Guehi for prayer sessions at their team hotel ahead of kick-off.
According to Semenyo, those moments of worship and reflection help strengthen them mentally and spiritually before stepping onto the pitch.
Asked whether his faith takes priority over football, the Black Stars forward was emphatic.
“Yeah, 100%. I wouldn’t be here without him [God], so there is always going to be faith and football after,” he said.
“I think God gave me the talent to be a footballer; he gave me all the skills, he gave me the mindset and the mentality, so I owe it to him to perform and maximise his words to the world.”
Semenyo has established himself as one of Ghana’s most influential attacking players in recent years, earning recognition for his performances at both club and international level.
He recently featured in Manchester City’s pre-season clash against Inter Milan, where he provided an assist during Saturday’s encounter, further highlighting his growing influence as he continues to build an impressive career.
