Antoine Semenyo Crowned Man of the Match
Antoine Semenyo enjoyed a historic start to his Manchester City career on Saturday, January 10, 2026, earning Man of the Match honors in a sensational 10-1 demolition of Exeter City in the FA Cup third round. The 26-year-old forward, who officially joined the Sky Blues from Bournemouth just 24 hours prior in a £64 million deal, made an immediate impact at the Etihad Stadium. Starting the match under the guidance of assistant manager Pep Lijnders—filling in for a suspended Pep Guardiola—Semenyo provided the assist for Rico Lewis to score City’s fifth goal before finding the back of the net himself in the 54th minute. The emphatic victory was Manchester City’s largest in the competition since 1987, providing a major statement of intent as the club looks to navigate a mid-season rebuild and challenge for multiple domestic and European trophies.
Following the match, Semenyo took to social media to express his gratitude, stating, “Man of the Match on my Man City debut. God is great.” The Ghanaian international’s performance was characterized by the same explosive pace and physicality that made him one of the most sought-after attackers in the Premier League during his time with the Cherries. His integration into the team appeared seamless, with teammate Rico Lewis noting that Semenyo’s quality was evident to everyone on the pitch. The debut was particularly poignant given that Semenyo had only just played his final game for Bournemouth on Wednesday, where he scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Tottenham before traveling to Manchester for his medical. His arrival in the North West has been viewed as a critical move for City, who have struggled with uncharacteristic inconsistency and a recent string of draws in the Premier League.
The decision to start Semenyo so quickly after his transfer highlights the immediate trust the coaching staff has in his ability to adapt to City’s demanding tactical system. Assistant manager Pep Lijnders praised Semenyo’s humble attitude and relentless work rate, noting that the club had been tracking the forward for a significant period. By scoring on his debut, Semenyo joins an elite group of players who have found the net in their first appearance for the club under the Guardiola era. His presence in the frontline, alongside stars like Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, adds a new dimension of “chaos” and spontaneity that the City management believes was missing during the first half of the 2025/26 campaign. With 10 Premier League goals already to his name this season from his time at Bournemouth, Semenyo is currently one of the most prolific forwards in English football.
As Manchester City prepares for a busy January schedule, including a Carabao Cup semi-final, the successful debut of their newest “number 42” has energized the fanbase and the locker room alike. The £64 million investment in the London-born striker is the latest in a series of high-profile acquisitions designed to return City to the summit of the Premier League table, where they currently trail Arsenal by six points. For Semenyo, the move represents a “real privilege” and a platform to compete for the game’s highest honors. With his first goal and first individual accolade already secured in a City shirt, the focus now shifts to his upcoming Premier League debut for the club, where he will look to continue the “God-given” form that has defined his meteoric rise over the past 18 months.
