2026 World Cup: 'Talented' Black Stars can beat any opposition, says Brandon Thomas-Asante
Black Stars forward Brandon Thomas-Asante remains confident Ghana can make a deep run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the squad has the quality and belief to overcome any opponent despite ending the group stage with a defeat.
Ghana secured qualification to the Round of 32 after finishing third in Group L with four points from three matches.
The Black Stars suffered a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in their final group game but did enough to advance to the knockout stage.
Speaking to Ghana FA Media after the match, the Coventry City striker highlighted the depth of talent within the squad and stressed that Ghana's ability to attack quickly on the counter makes them a dangerous side, even when playing a more defensive game.
“We know that there’s so much talent in the squad and we want to be able to impose that on our opposition,” the Coventry City forward said.
“But saying that, even in the games where we might have been seen as more defensive, I think that there’s a lot of fear from other teams of what we do on the counter.
"So that’s not to be slept on because there is a very attacking threat, even in those defensive phases for the transition.”
The 26-year-old believes the Black Stars have shown they possess the weapons to trouble any team in the tournament and says the squad is determined to continue proving its credentials on the biggest stage.
Ghana will face Colombia at Kansas City Stadium in the Round of 32 on Saturday, with a place in the last 16 at stake.
Thomas-Asante revealed that the team's ambition has always extended beyond simply qualifying from the group stage, insisting the players are determined to restore Ghana's reputation as one of Africa's football powerhouses.
“The overall feeling was that we want to go and win the game and to make a statement to our fans at home that we want to make a new dawn of really going for it in tournaments and being that powerhouse that we know that we are.”
Reflecting on the loss to Croatia, the forward admitted the result was disappointing but maintained that the squad remains fully focused on progressing further in the competition.
“We’re definitely disappointed that we didn’t win today, but we know we have that feeling inside to go and progress,” he added.