‘We’re Not Done Yet’ – Ayew Rallies Black Stars Before England Clash
Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew says Ghana’s players remain fully focused ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup showdown with England, stressing that the team’s work is far from finished despite a winning start to the tournament.
The four-time African champions boosted their hopes of progressing from Group L after securing a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening fixture, courtesy of Caleb Yirenkyi’s late winner in Toronto.
With attention now turning to England, Ayew has revealed that confidence remains high within the Ghana camp as the players prepare for one of their biggest tests at the tournament.
“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 Black Stars skipper said during Monday’s pre-match media engagement.
The veteran forward emphasized that Ghana’s ambitions extend beyond their opening success and that the squad remains determined to continue collecting positive results.
“We still have two more important games to play. We want to ensure that we do our best, enjoy ourselves and get positive results.”
England arrive for the encounter after an impressive victory over Croatia, setting up a heavyweight battle between two sides aiming to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.
Ayew acknowledged the quality of the Three Lions but insisted that competing against elite opposition is what the World Cup is all about.
“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 said.
“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.”
The Leicester City attacker also reflected on Ghana’s difficult opening match against Panama, noting that there are no straightforward fixtures at football’s biggest tournament.
“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.”
Looking ahead to the England encounter, Ayew remains optimistic that the Black Stars can rise to the occasion.
“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 in Boston could move Ghana a significant step closer to qualification for the Round of 16 before their final Group L match against Croatia. The Black Stars are seeking to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since their historic quarter-final run in South Africa in 2010.
