Semenyo leads Ghana’s three-man charge in UEFA Champions League

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase begins today, Tuesday, September 8, with three Ghanaians set to represent the country in Europe’s premier club competition.

Antoine Semenyo, Rahim Ibrahim and Kojo Peprah Oppong are included in their respective clubs’ Champions League squads this season.

Semenyo is the most prominent of the trio and will feature for Manchester City, who begin their campaign away to Portuguese giants FC Porto tonight.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 5: Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City battles with Coventry City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester City and Coventry City at Etihad Stadium on September 5, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

The Ghana international returns to the Champions League after making his debut in the competition with City last season. He has also made a strong start to the new Premier League campaign, starting all three matches and providing two assists.

Semenyo was directly involved in City’s 1-0 win over Coventry City at the weekend, setting up Erling Haaland for the only goal of the game.

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA – SEPTEMBER 1: Rahim Ibrahim poses during the official UEFA Champions League 2026/27 portrait session on September 1, 2026 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Photo by Nathan Zentveld – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Rahim Ibrahim, meanwhile, will be looking to make his mark on the European stage with Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava.

The 25-year-old midfielder is part of Slovan’s Champions League squad and has featured in all six of the club’s matches in the competition this season. Slovan will begin their league phase campaign away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, September 9.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 06: Kojo Peprah Oppong of Fenerbahce SK, poses during the official UEFA Champions League 2026/27 portrait session on September 06, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Kerem Uzel – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The third Ghanaian, Kojo Peprah Oppong, is set to make his Champions League debut with Turkish giants Fenerbahçe. The 22-year-old defender is part of Fenerbahçe’s registered squad and could make his first appearance in the competition when the Turkish side host AS Roma on Thursday, September 10.

Peprah Oppong joined Fenerbahçe from French club Nice during the summer and will compete for a place in a defence that includes former Manchester City defender Nathan Aké and Slovakia international Milan Škriniar.

KUOPIO, FINLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Jaakko Oksanen of KuPS Kuopio runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Rahim Ibrahim of SK Slovan Bratislava during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between KuPS Kuopio and SK Slovan Bratislava at Tammelan Stadion on November 06, 2025 in Kuopio, Finland. (Photo by Ville Vuorinen – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Ghana’s representation this season comes without several familiar names. Mohammed Kudus, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Caleb Yirenkyi are not involved in the competition, leaving Semenyo, Ibrahim and Peprah Oppong as Ghana’s three representatives.

The Champions League league phase runs from September 8, 2026, to January 27, 2027, with each team playing eight matches before the knockout stages.

For Ghanaian fans, the focus will be on Semenyo’s continued rise at Manchester City, while Ibrahim and Peprah Oppong look to establish themselves on Europe’s biggest club stage.