Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo believes AFC Bournemouth have earned the right to compete in Europe next season following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham on Monday night.
Semenyo fired the Cherries into an early lead just 53 seconds into the match with a well-taken goal—his eighth in the Premier League this season—which ultimately secured all three points. The win ended Bournemouth’s six-game winless run and propelled them above Fulham into eighth place on the table.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Semenyo said:
“I feel like what we have done this year, we definitely deserve the European places. All season long we’ve been grinding and beating top-six teams. This little phase we went through—losing and drawing—every team has it. That’s why this win is so important.”
He continued:
“We came into the game wanting to give our all, and you could see from the celebrations at the end how much it meant. It’s been a tough couple of weeks, but it’s good to be back on the board.”
Semenyo’s early strike was not only Bournemouth’s third-fastest goal in Premier League history, but it also marked a personal milestone for the 24-year-old—his 10th goal in all competitions this season, making it the first time he has reached double figures in his professional career.
Asked about the goal by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, Semenyo responded with a smile and a trademark phrase:
“You know me—I have to cook. If I don’t cook, I’m not working.”
“As soon as I got it, I knew I was going to shift onto my left. I just needed a bit of space. It was a tidy, calm, and collected finish. I knew the goal would come. I’m so happy—it’s such a relief.”
With Semenyo back in scoring form and Bournemouth climbing the table, the Cherries’ European dream is very much alive.
