Mon May 30, 2022 6:30 am
Semenyo receives first Ghana call-up
Cardiff City right-back Jai Semenyo has earned his first call-up to the Ghana under-20 for the upcoming Toulon Tournament.
Steve Morison:
“There are people who are in the under-23s now who are not quite ready to step up, the likes of Jai Semenyo, people like that, would be much more beneficial that they go and have a loan next season and prove somewhere else that they are good enough for a recall in January and will make a difference to our team. I think it’s imperative and really important."
Semenyo will be 19 years old this year and it’s thought he will join a league 1 or 2 club this coming season on loan.
Bluebirds defender has seen his stock rise immeasurably over the last 12 months. This time last year, he was playing for non-league Mangotsfield United, by January he had made his senior Cardiff debut against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup.
He is certainly a player Cardiff think highly of. They expect him to go out on loan next season and gain some much-needed senior experience under his belt before coming back and fighting for a place in Morison's first XI.
And he has topped off an incredible year by receiving his first call-up to the Black Stars under-20s side, one of eight uncapped players in the squad for the eight-team tournament. The Black Satellites, as they are known, will compete in Group B against Indonesia, Mexico and Venezuela.
It will take place between May 29 and June 12. Semenyo will hope to make his first Ghana under-20s appearance in their first game against Mexico on Monday.
The call-up comes days after his brother, and Bristol City forward, Antoine got his first call-up to the Ghana senior squad.