Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew has expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to rise to the occasion as the team prepares for its FIFA World Cup Round of 32 encounter against Colombia on Friday at Kansas City Stadium.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference on Thursday, the Ghana skipper stressed that the squad is fully focused on securing victory and advancing to the next stage of the tournament.
Ayew said the Black Stars have shown steady improvement throughout the competition and are determined to deliver a strong performance in the knockout fixture.
“We know tomorrow is going to be a big game. We are ready,” Ayew told reporters. “We’ve been growing in the tournament. Tomorrow we just want to put on a show and make sure we win. That’s the most important thing for us.”
Ghana enters the match after a mixed Group L campaign that saw the team record one win, one draw and one defeat against Panama, England and Croatia.
However, Ayew believes the narrow loss to Croatia should not be viewed as a reflection of the team’s current form or prospects in the knockout stage.
According to the captain, the Colombia clash presents a completely different challenge and requires a fresh approach from the players.
“Personally, I think the Croatia game was a one-off,” he said. “A knockout game is totally different, and we have to be ready for that challenge.”
Ayew also acknowledged the strength of the Colombian side, coached by Néstor Lorenzo, but expressed confidence in the tactical plans put in place by head coach Carlos Queiroz.
He noted that the technical team has thoroughly prepared the squad for the encounter and believes Ghana has what it takes to compete with one of South America’s top teams.
“It’s a top team and it’s going to be a difficult game, but I’m confident that with what the manager has told us tactically, we’ll be ready for the challenge,” he added.
