Black Stars: We need to be more aggressive with officials – Semenyo

Black Stars’ Antoine Semenyo Calls for More Aggressive Approach to Match Officials

By [Your Name]
June 26, 2026

Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo has urged his Black Stars teammates to adopt a more assertive stance when dealing with match officials, following two consecutive incidents where refereeing decisions went against the team during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L matches. Speaking ahead of the final group game against Croatia, Semenyo expressed frustration over the officials’ failure to review clear fouls, emphasizing that the team must be more proactive in drawing attention to infringements.

Semenyo’s comments stem from the Black Stars’ goalless draw with England on June 23, where Prince Adu Kwabena was fouled in the penalty box by England’s Ezri Konsa, who launched into the Ghanaian forward with no attempt to play the ball. Despite the clear infringement, the referee did not award a penalty, and Konsa’s challenge was not reviewed. Subsequently, when Adu attempted to follow up, he was flagged offside—a decision Semenyo believes was incorrect, as the initial foul should have nullified the play.

“I was right next to the incident and was the first to put my hand up because I had a clear view of it,” Semenyo stated. “As a team, we need to be more aggressive around the officials. Players need to stay down a bit longer if they’re fouled, and obviously the coach is on the touchline putting pressure on the fourth official. It’s frustrating because they’ve now failed to check it on two occasions.”

The forward revealed that the team had discussed the issue in training, agreeing that players must dangle around referees and complain when they witness fouls. Semenyo’s call for increased vigilance comes as the Black Stars sit on four points in Group L, level with England, with a win or draw against Croatia sufficient to secure second place in the group—provided England defeats Panama in their concurrent match.

Semenyo’s remarks echo concerns raised by Ghana’s coaching staff after the draw with England. Coach Carlos Queiroz praised goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zaki’s performance in the 0-0 result, highlighting the team’s collective effort and discipline. The coach emphasized that the defensive resilience shown against England was a product of the team’s unity and adherence to tactical instructions.

Looking ahead to the Croatia match, midfielder Kwasi Sibo has expressed unwavering confidence in the Black Stars’ ability to secure all three points, which would top the group. Sibo’s optimism is bolstered by the team’s recent performance, including a narrow victory over Panama in the opening group game and the resilient draw against England.

The Black Stars’ preparations for the Croatia encounter have been detailed in pre-match reports, noting that the team is focused on maintaining composure, capitalizing on scoring opportunities, and avoiding lapses of concentration in the final stages. With four points already on the board, Ghana understands that a positive result against Croatia could cement their place in the knockout stages, setting up a potential round-of-16 clash with the winner of Group M.

As the team approaches the decisive fixture, Semenyo’s message is clear: the Black Stars must move beyond politeness and adopt a more assertive approach to ensure that officiating errors do not undermine their World Cup ambitions. By holding referees accountable and demanding proper reviews of contentious incidents, Ghana aims to maximize its chances of advancing in the tournament and fulfilling the hopes of millions of fans across the nation.

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