Antoine Semenyo injury update: Bournemouth star out of Ghana clash

Antoine Semenyo has pulled out of Ghana’s squad after aggravating a previous ligament issue during Friday’s friendly defeat to Japan, with AFC Bournemouth now awaiting further assessment back in England. The 25-year-old started in the Black Stars’ 2-0 loss and was substituted around the 55-minute mark. While there were few outward signs of discomfort at the time, the Ghana FA later clarified that the forward had suffered an aggravation of an existing problem. Local reports and the association’s medical note say it concerns the left anterior talo-fibular ligament around the ankle/shin area. The development rules Semenyo out of Ghana’s meeting with South Korea on Tuesday and puts his participation in Bournemouth’s return to Premier League action this weekend in doubt, per Ghana FA communications and Ghanaian media coverage. 

Bournemouth resume their campaign at the Vitality Stadium against West Ham United on 22 November 2025, a fixture that arrives at an awkward time for Andoni Iraola given Semenyo’s rich early-season form. The Ghana forward has been central to the Cherries’ fast transitions and direct threat from the right, and any time on the sidelines would be a blow ahead of a busy late-November and December schedule. The Premier League fixture list confirms the Hammers’ visit on that date, with TV details and ticketing information also aligning across official and reputable outlets. 

Semenyo’s mix of ball-carrying, direct running and improved end product has been a pillar of Bournemouth’s attacking identity under Iraola. He’s been a willing presser out of possession and a frequent outlet for quick breaks, often turning defensive regains into shots within seconds. If he’s unavailable, Bournemouth lose pace in wide areas and some of their unpredictability in transition. With West Ham’s tendency to sit compact and spring counters of their own, the Cherries’ ability to stretch the pitch vertically could be diminished without their Ghanaian flyer.

In our view, Bournemouth’s best play here is prudence. Lateral ankle sprains — particularly involving the anterior talo-fibular ligament — can be deceptive; players sometimes feel fine at low intensity, only for instability to show under match load. With West Ham on 22 November and a dense run looming, rushing him back would be short-termism. Iraola’s system can still function with another runner stretching the right channel while the scheme shifts a touch more progression through the left and central overloads. If Semenyo misses one game but returns fully stable, Bournemouth protect their bigger picture.

If Semenyo can’t start, the tactical tweak we’d expect is a slight shift toward third-man combinations rather than pure north-south carries on the right. In our view, Bournemouth can preserve depth by instructing the right-back to hold wider and higher, while the right-sided midfielder underlaps to receive on the half-turn. That keeps the same “threat profile” (pin back the opposition full-back, attack the far post) but reduces the need for repeated 1v1 wins. Expect more early switches from the left centre-back to isolate the weak side, plus a marginally lower counter-press to protect against West Ham’s direct transitions. It’s not Semenyo’s chaos — but it can replicate the outcomes.

Semenyo is set to report back to Bournemouth’s medical team, with Andoni Iraola expected to offer an update in his pre-West Ham press conference later this week. The Cherries’ plan will hinge on ligament stability tests and swelling response over the next 48–72 hours. If cleared, a managed-minutes role feels likelier than a full 90.

👉 Cherries fans — if Semenyo can’t start on Saturday, who would you trust to carry the right-flank threat against West Ham?