Antoine Semenyo was the hero as his late flick secured a 1-0 win for Manchester City over Chelsea in the 2025/2026 Emirates FA Cup final. (Scroll down to watch video)
Semenyo’s decisive moment came in the 71st minute when he redirected a cross from Erling Haaland with the inside of his foot to break the deadlock and seal the trophy for City.
The victory handed Manchester City their 20th title under manager Pep Guardiola, marking another milestone in his long spell at the club.
Semenyo enjoyed a standout week, having also scored in City’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, a run of form that saw him shortlisted for the English Premier League Player of the Season award.
Speaking to the BBC after the final, the Black Stars forward reflected on the winning goal and what it meant for his growing trophy collection, describing it as a defining moment in his season.
“It has happened a couple of times in training – it happened perfectly today. Everything happened so fast to be honest.”
“It came straight to me and I had to improvise myself as quickly as I can. I have never competed for trophies like this before, so everything is new to me.”
“It is a good finish, I can’t lie. As a kid I have always wanted to be playing for the top teams – it took a long time to get there, but I am grateful” Semenyo said.
Antoine Semenyo is living the dream life, and is now an FA Cup champion 🏆
In the past 10 years, he has gone from playing Sunday League football to scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final with an avant-garde flick. Inspirational 👏pic.twitter.com/BXks2hh562
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) May 16, 2026
