AFCON: Antoine Semenyo Withdraws From Ghana Squad With Swollen Leg

Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo has been sent home from international duty with an injury concern, ruling him out of Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Gambia, and raising a slight fitness worry ahead of City's clash with Liverpool next month.

Semenyo has been in excellent form for Enzo Maresca's side, scoring twice in last Sunday's 5-3 win over Sunderland and picking up the man of the match award, though he admitted afterwards he was "battered and bruised" from the performance. He has now withdrawn from Ghana's squad ahead of Thursday evening's match against Ivory Coast.

Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku explained that the decision was made to be cautious with Semenyo rather than risk making things worse.

"Antoine [Semenyo] and the coach spoke, and he told the coach, 'If you need me, I will come down for the medical team to re-examine me, but the truth is that my leg is swollen, and we need to treat it," Okraku told Asempa FM.

He added that the federation had to weigh up how best to handle the situation given the player's honesty. "As a leader, if you want to know your players, and in this particular case, we know the players and how honest they are when it comes to situations like this, you'd have to ask yourself whether you'd allow Antoine to continue with his recovery and be ready for Man City and for Ghana during the next window," he said. "Or have Antoine fly down to Ghana to undergo an MRI and then ask him to go back because he can't play. His leg is swollen."

Before the injury news, City boss Maresca had praised how important Semenyo has become to the side, especially with Jeremy Doku out of action.

"It's much better to work with him than against, for sure, no doubt," Maresca said. "Again, he's giving us a lot in terms of on the ball and off the ball. If you see the first goal we scored at Crystal Palace away, it was his cross. The first goal we scored against Coventry was his assist. So he's working very well. Again, not only on the ball, [but] also off the ball, he's working. He's helping the team a lot."

Liverpool will be hoping to end City's perfect start under Maresca when the two sides meet at Anfield on October 11. City currently top the Premier League table, three points clear of Liverpool, who sit sixth.