AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has explained why forward Antoine Semenyo took a break during the November international window.
Semenyo, who was named in Ghana’s Black Stars squad for the final round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger, opted to sit out the fixtures. He is now set to return to Bournemouth’s lineup for their match against Brighton later today.
Addressing the decision, Iraola revealed that both Semenyo and teammate Milos Kerkez needed time off to recover and enhance their physical fitness.
“With Antoine, it’s a situation similar to Milos. These are young players who have been playing many minutes for both the club and their national teams,” Iraola explained.
“The past few weeks were the only opportunity they had to receive treatment, rest for a few days, and address any issues.”
He added, “They needed to pause, undergo treatment, and work on their physical condition to keep up with the high demands we place on them, as we rely on them a lot.”
Semenyo has been a key player for Bournemouth this season, making 12 appearances across all competitions and scoring four goals.