Ghana have ‘duty to Africa’ to progress at World Cup, says coach

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz believes his team has a "duty" to Africa to advance further in the World Cup, aiming to break a streak of knockout-stage defeats for continental teams. As one of a record nine African nations to reach the group stage, Ghana faces Colombia in the next round.

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It’s another challenge for us. We have to improve these statistics tomorrow. We have to make it better. So it is on our shoulders to be sure that we add another African team to the next round. That’s our duty.

Queiroz, a veteran coach managing in his fifth World Cup, acknowledged the challenge ahead. "We have to improve these statistics tomorrow. We have to make it better. So it is on our shoulders to be sure that we add another African team to the next round. That’s our duty," he stated.

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This is in the DNA of these boys in Ghana. There’s nothing that you can build or you can buy. It is something that is in their blood and they are really great fighters and I’m very proud to be their coach.

He praised the resilience and fighting spirit of his Ghanaian players, emphasizing that their determination is innate. "This is in the DNA of these boys in Ghana. There’s nothing that you can build or you can buy. It is something that is in their blood and they are really great fighters and I’m very proud to be their coach," said the 73-year-old.

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It was amazing. Obviously those are the moments that we want to bring back to our country.

Captain Jordan Ayew echoed the sentiment, recalling Ghana's historic quarter-final run in 2010 and expressing confidence in the team's chances against higher-ranked Colombia. "In football, every game you start is 50-50," Ayew said. "But what I can guarantee is that we will definitely make Africa proud and Ghana proud."

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In football, every game you start is 50-50. Tomorrow is going to be another tight game. Listen, we are going to do our best, we are going to put on a show and we will see what will happen. But what I can guarantee is that we will definitely make Africa proud and Ghana proud.