2026 World Cup: Black Stars will head into England clash with “free minds” - Gideon Mensah

Black Stars defender Gideon Mensah says Ghana will approach Tuesday’s high-profile World Cup meeting with England in a calm and confident frame of mind, insisting the squad is motivated rather than overawed by the opposition’s star power.

Ghana head into their second Group L fixture buoyed by a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening match, a result that has significantly lifted morale within the camp and eased early tournament pressure.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Auxerre left-back stressed that the team’s mentality is built on belief and collective experience at the top level.

“We feel very good. Very confident, obviously, because we've already had three points in our first game,” Mensah said. “So this is a game that it's like we're going with our free minds, free heads.”

Asked about coping with England’s attacking quality, Mensah pointed to the squad’s exposure to elite European football, including players familiar with the English top flight.

“I’m ready to compete against the names that you just mentioned,” he added. “This is not something new for us. Some of the boys have been playing in England. I’ve played against a couple of the players also in the England team.”

Ghana are expected to welcome the return of vice-captain Thomas Partey to strengthen midfield, as they target a result that could put them within touching distance of the knockout stage.

Mensah said the occasion is not causing fear within the squad, but instead serving as added motivation.

“It’s not something that is really pushing us to shake or anything. It’s just something that motivates us to do more.”

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT, with Ghana aiming to build on their strong start as they continue their push for a first World Cup knockout appearance since 2010.