Ghana’s head coach, Carlos Queiroz, has called on the Black Stars to up their game, beat Colombia in the Round of 32, and reach the next knockout stage.
The West Africans will face the South Americans on Saturday morning, and Queiroz believes a challenge awaits his charges but stresses that they must overcome it and progress.
“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 said.
“This is in the DNA of these boys in Ghana,” said the 73-year-old, who was only appointed in April. “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.”
Queiroz is managing at his fifth consecutive World Cup and managed to lead Ghana into the last 32 as one of the top third-place teams.
Black Stars ready
Meanwhile, Captain Jordan Ayew has said that his teammates are ready to make their country proud.
“It was amazing. Obviously, those are the moments that we want to bring back to our country. In football, every game you start is 50-50. Tomorrow is going to be another tight game,” the experienced star said.
“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.”
The Black Stars are among a record nine African nations that progressed from the group stage out of 10. However, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and DR Congo have been eliminated in the Round of 32.
