Ghana captain Jordan Ayew has underlined the Black Stars’ determination to rise to the occasion when they face England in a crucial Group L fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The four-time African champions take on the Three Lions on Tuesday riding the momentum of their opening victory over Panama, where a late goal from Caleb Yirenkyi secured a valuable 1-0 win and placed Ghana in a strong position in the group standings.
With anticipation building ahead of one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the group stage, Ayew revealed that confidence remains high within the camp, while stressing that the squad remains grounded despite the positive start.
“It has been positive, and it has been good. Everyone is ready for the next game. We’ve won just one game, and we are not yet done,” the 34-year-old said.
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“We still have two more important games to play. We want to ensure that we do our best, enjoy ourselves and get positive results.”
The experienced forward acknowledged the scale of the task awaiting Ghana but insisted that competing against elite opposition is exactly what players dream of at football’s biggest tournament.
“It’s going to be a tough game, and we all know that. That’s why we are at the World Cup – you have to play against the best teams,” he added.
“We are ready for the challenge, and we are going to do our best to make ourselves proud and make our country and families proud.”
Ayew also reflected on the hard-earned triumph over Panama, describing it as further proof that every match at the World Cup presents a unique challenge regardless of the opponent.
“There are no easy games at the World Cup. Every game is difficult because you play against the best teams. Obviously, it was a difficult game against Panama, but in the end, we got the three points, and that’s the most important thing.”
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“Now we are playing against England, and it’s going to be really difficult, but we will see what happens. We will put on a show and make everybody proud.”
A positive result against England would significantly boost Ghana’s hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds and could even secure qualification before their final group fixture.
The Black Stars will conclude their Group L campaign against Croatia on June 27, with Carlos Queiroz’s side aiming to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since their memorable quarter-final appearance in South Africa in 2010.
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