Ghana international Antoine Semenyo says the challenges he faced throughout his career have strengthened his mentality and sharpened his determination to succeed in football.
The Black Stars forward, now starring for Premier League champions Manchester City, endured difficult spells at Newport County, Bristol City and Sunderland, where he struggled for form and often found himself out of the team.
Semenyo believes those setbacks played a key role in shaping his character and building the resilience that defines him today.
“It’s made me resilient. I’m strong-minded and have strong character. Anything in the way is just a blur,” he said.
“I’m always focused on my goal. If I want something, I’m going to get it eventually.”
Looking back on those challenging periods, the 26-year-old admitted that being sidelined and struggling for consistency tested his mental strength.
“I had phases at Newport, Bristol and Sunderland where I wasn’t playing well and was out of the team,” he said.
“You need to be strong-minded to get through those moments. If you’re not, you’ll fall.”
Since joining Manchester City in January 2026, Semenyo has impressed with 13 goals in 35 appearances, including the winner in last season’s FA Cup final. He has also made a strong start to the current campaign, registering two goals and three assists in eight matches across all competitions.
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