Former Ghana national football team midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has cautioned against making the Black Stars overly dependent on one player ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the growing admiration for Antoine Semenyo.

His warning comes in the wake of Mohammed Kudus’s injury, a blow that has shifted the spotlight onto Semenyo after his stellar season lighting up European pitches.

In an interview with Graphic Sports, Agyemang-Badu applauded Semenyo’s impact but stressed that Ghana’s World Cup dreams must be fueled by unity and shared determination, not the brilliance of just one star.

“Yes, he can be a key figure for the team, but I do not believe the entire team should be built around one player,” he said.

Agyemang-Badu, who wore Ghana’s colors at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, warned that putting too much weight on one player’s shoulders could backfire if fate deals the team a tough hand through injuries or loss of form.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars have kicked off their preparations in Cardiff, gathering 22 determined players as they gear up for a friendly clash with Wales on June 2.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz is set to unveil his final squad before Ghana embarks on its Group L journey, opening against Panama on June 17.