Semenyo sustained the problem in Saturday’s Premier League victory over Ipswich.

Maresca said the club had feared the injury could have been even worse.

The City boss said: “After the scan we feel much better because it’s not as bad as we expected.

“It could be eight weeks, so now the most important thing is for him to recover.”

Maresca delivered a more positive update on Erling Haaland after he left the field limping at the weekend following a blow to the foot.

“He can be available,” Maresca said ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash against AEK Athens. “We have a session now and we’ll see.”

The Black Stars attacker made a substitute appearance as the Sky Blues secured a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town in the highly competitive clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Semenyo replaced Belgian-Ghanaian forward Jeremy Doku in the 77th minute.

However, the victory was overshadowed by injury concerns involving several key players, including Semenyo, Erling Haaland, Nico O’Reilly, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic.

Speaking after the match, Maresca expressed hope that Semenyo’s injury was not a serious one.

“Hopefully they [Semenyo and Haaland] are good, but they are big players for us.

“Same for any team losing their best two players. It’s difficult for everyone, but we’ll see what’s happened and hopefully find a solution,” Maresca told Sky Sports after the game.

The former Chelsea manager provided further details on the players’ conditions while speaking to the club’s media.

“I asked all of them. Mateo said he was okay, Matheus said he was okay, Erling said he was also okay. Nico, it’s still his back. The only one we need to wait on was Antoine, and we will see,” he said.

The Ghana international has continued to make an impact for the Premier League giants this season, scoring two goals and providing three assists in nine appearances across competitions.

The strategic engagement brought together parents of young footballers of Ghanaian heritage born in the United Kingdom, key football stakeholders, and prominent personalities, as the Football Association deepened its commitment to building sustainable pathways for dual-national talents to represent Ghana at the international level.

Leading the high-level engagement, GFA President, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, outlined the long-term vision of the Football Association in identifying, nurturing, and integrating talented UK-born players of Ghanaian descent into Ghana’s national team structures at a much earlier stage.

In a detailed presentation and lecture, President Simeon-Okraku passionately articulated the importance of foreign-born Ghanaian players embracing the opportunity to represent Ghana on the international stage, stressing the immense pride, identity, and legacy associated with wearing the national colours.

He underscored the GFA’s growing commitment to creating structured development pathways for young talents abroad, while fostering stronger relationships with families and support systems crucial to player development.

The High Commissioner of Ghana to the United Kingdom and Ireland, Mrs. Sabah Zita Benson, warmly welcomed parents and invited guests, commending the initiative as an important platform for strengthening connections between Ghana and its diaspora communities through football development.

She highlighted the importance of collaboration between the GFA and families in shaping the next generation of Ghanaian footballers and encouraged parents to support opportunities that preserve their children’s Ghanaian identity through football.

The initiative forms part of a broader and carefully structured talent identification programme aimed at discovering and supporting gifted young footballers of Ghanaian descent living in the UK, while guiding them through clear development pathways towards potential representation for Ghana across various national team levels.

Former Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien, lauded the Football Association and its partners for initiating the programme, describing it as a vital intervention for the future of Ghana football. Drawing from his vast experience, Essien shared words of encouragement with parents and young players, emphasizing the importance of commitment, discipline, and early planning in football development.

Also contributing to the discussions was Dela Efua Dzebu, mother of Ghana international Antoine Semenyo, who stressed the importance of early integration into Ghana’s football structures and maintaining strong ties to the country from a young age.

As part of the wider programme,  a new talent identification initiative targeted at promising footballers of Ghanaian descent living in the United Kingdom, is scheduled to take place on May 27 and 28, 2026, as Ghana seeks to expand its talent pool and strengthen pathways for future national teams.

The scouting programme is expected to provide young talents with opportunities to be assessed and monitored within a structured framework aimed at supporting their long-term football development and potential inclusion in Ghana’s national team system.

The engagement session attracted several notable personalities and family representatives connected to Ghana football, including the family of the late Christian Atsu, represented by Mrs. Christian Atsu and her children, as well as Ahmed Lamptey, father of Ghana international Tariq Lamptey.

Also present were GFA Technical Director, Joseph Kwame Mintah, and the GFA’s Head of Talent Identification, Steward McLaren, both of whom continue to play instrumental roles in Ghana’s long-term player development strategy.

Credit: Ghana FA

The 25-year-old forward has endured a frustrating year with injuries, having been out since January.

Despite making encouraging progress in recent weeks and returning to individual training, fresh scans have confirmed a relapse that is expected to keep him out for at least three months.

This timeline effectively ends any hopes of Kudus featuring at the World Cup, dealing a massive blow to Ghana national football team preparations.

The Black Stars had been counting on the Tottenham Hotspur attacker as one of their key players heading into the tournament.

Ghana have been drawn in a difficult group alongside England, Croatia and Panama, with Kudus expected to play a central role in their attacking setup.

His absence leaves a significant void in the squad, with the team now forced to rethink their approach ahead of the global showpiece.

Kudus’ ability to create chances, score goals and influence games in tight situations has made him one of Ghana’s most important players in recent years.

At club level, the injury is also a setback for Spurs and their new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who will have to navigate the remainder of the season without one of his key signings.

Ghana’s technical team will now be tasked with finding alternatives as they aim to compete strongly despite the absence of their talisman, with defender Mohammed Salisu also set to miss the World Cup, further compounding the defensive and attacking challenges facing the Black Stars.

Credit: Ghanasoccernet

Black Stars striker Antoine Semenyo was on target for City in the rout over the Reds.

Dangerman Erling Harland started it all in the 39th minute when he converted from the spot.

He made it 2-0 in injury time of the first half.

After just five minutes from the break, Semenyo made it 3-0, beating the offside trap.

Haaland completed his hat trick, scoring in the 57th minute.

In the remaining quarter-final clashes, Chelsea will host Port Vale at the Stamford Bridge later on Saturday while Arsenal play away to Southampton in the final game of the day.

West Ham United will slug it out with Leeds United in the final quarter-final fixture on Sunday after which the draw for the semi-finals will be held.

Credit: Onua Online

The 21-year-old came off the bench to play 34 minutes for the first time this season.

Naasei had previously played the last 16 matches as a right-back but was deployed in his natural centre-back role during the encounter.

The 1.85m tall defender helped Granada maintain control as they secured all three points on the road.

Despite starting on the bench in this match, Naasei has been a regular presence for the club throughout the campaign.

He has made 29 appearances in the Segunda División this season.

Naasei joined Granada in 2023 and has progressed through the club’s ranks to become an important member of the squad.

His consistent performances have played a role in Granada’s push for promotion to the La Liga.

Born in Accra, the young defender is eligible to represent the Black Stars.

With Ghana preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Naasei’s progress in Spain could place him in contention for a future national team call-up.

Credit: Michael Obeng

The Spurs midfielder has not kicked a ball since pulling up in the clash against Sunderland.

And SunSport understands Kudus has travelled back to Amsterdam to consult a trusted expert from his time at Ajax.

Sources say the specialist is the same one who helped Kudus recover from a knee injury sustained while playing for Ajax against Liverpool in the Champions League in 2020.

Kudus has remained close to the medic ever since and requested permission from Spurs to undergo treatment with him as he steps up his recovery.

The Ghana international joined Tottenham last summer from West Ham in a £55 million deal and quickly established himself as one of the club’s most dangerous attacking threats under the now-sacked Thomas Frank.

His absence has been keenly felt, with the 25-year-old missing the club’s last nine matches.

However, SunSport has been told that Kudus is targeting a return to full team training after the March international break.

There is also significant interest in his recovery from Ghana, with the national side closely monitoring his progress ahead of this year’s World Cup.

The Black Stars are set to face England in the group stage, and Kudus is considered a key figure in their plans.

Credit: The Sun

Last Wednesday, Dr Pambo met Abu in Toulouse, where the 25-year-old midfielder is recovering from the fractured leg he sustained during Ghana’s international friendly against Japan in Nagoya last November.

Abu has been in rehabilitation for three months and is making steady progress. He is currently undertaking structured gym-based drills and is working towards a return to individual field sessions before rejoining full group training.

Partey, 32, faces trial in November after denying raping two women and sexually assaulting a third woman.

The Crown Prosecution Service has now authorised two additional counts of rape against Partey.

Partey will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 13, in relation to the new allegations.

Partey previously pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court in September last year.

Those alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022. At the time Partey, now playing in La Liga, was a first-team regular in the Premier League at the north London club. He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal, following the expiration of his contract at the end of June.

Partey, who is on bail, is due to face trial on November 2. He now plays for Spanish side Villarreal. The conditions of his bail do not prevent Partey from playing football, but he must notify police of any international travel 24 hours in advance and must not contact the complainants.

Partey remains a key player in the Ghana international team, who will face England at the World Cup group stages in the United States on June 23.

Credit: Telegraph UK