Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew says Ghana is prepared to rise to the challenge of facing the world’s top teams as the Black Stars continue their campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ayew led Ghana to a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening Group D match, securing the country’s first win in a World Cup opener since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
The breakthrough came in stoppage time when Caleb Yirenkyi found the back of the net in the 95th minute, handing the Black Stars a crucial three points and boosting their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
With attention now turning to a high-profile clash against England on Tuesday, June 23, Ayew says the squad remains focused and determined to build on its winning start.
“It’s 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,” Ayew told reporters.
“We still have two important matches ahead of us. We want to continue giving our best, enjoy our football, and achieve positive results.”
The Ghana captain acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge posed by England but insisted that competing against elite opposition is part of what makes the World Cup special.
“It’s going to be a tough game against England, and we all know that. But that’s why we are at the World Cup. You have to play against the best teams,” he said.
“We are ready for the challenge, and we will do everything we can to make ourselves proud and make our country and families proud as well.”
Reflecting on the opening victory over Panama, Ayew noted that there are no straightforward fixtures at the tournament.
“There are no easy games at the World Cup. Every match is difficult because you are playing against the best teams. The game against Panama was tough, but in the end, we got the three points, and that was the most important thing.”
Looking ahead to the England encounter, the experienced forward promised that the Black Stars would leave everything on the pitch.
“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 could significantly boost Ghana’s chances of securing an early place in the knockout stages before their final group match against Croatia, as Carlos Queiroz’s side continues its quest for World Cup success.