2026 World Cup: It's a tough game but we will make everybody proud - Jordan Ayew ahead of England clash

Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew has acknowledged the magnitude of Ghana's upcoming World Cup showdown against England, describing it as a difficult encounter but insisting the team is ready to rise to the challenge.

Ghana heads into Tuesday's Group L fixture buoyed by a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Caleb Yirenkyi's solitary strike secured all three points.

Speaking to the media on Monday ahead of the clash with the Three Lions, Ayew said morale within the camp remains high, with the players fully focused on securing another positive result.

"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 said.

"So we have two more important games. We want to ensure that we do our best to enjoy ourselves and get positive results.

Ayew admitted England would provide stern opposition but stressed that Ghana is prepared for the challenge.

"It’s going to be a tough game [against England], and we all know, and that’s why we are at the World Cup. You have to play against the best.

"We are ready for the challenge, and we are going to do our best to make ourselves proud and make our country and family proud," he added.

Reflecting on the narrow win over Panama, the Leicester City forward noted that there are no easy matches at the global showpiece.

"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.

"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 victory or even a draw against England could be enough to seal Ghana's place in the knockout stages.

Carlos Queiroz's men will wrap up their Group L campaign against Croatia on June 27 as they seek to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time since their historic quarter-final run in 2010.