Carlos Queiroz, the manager of Ghana, stated on Thursday that his squad feels a deep responsibility to help an African team reach the World Cup round of 16 following recent struggles for nations from the continent. Currently competing in his fifth consecutive tournament, the Portuguese coach guided Ghana into the knockout stages as one of the best third-place finishers.
While a record number of African countries initially reached the group stage in the tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, only Morocco has advanced further so far. Teams like Senegal, Ivory Coast, and DR Congo have already been eliminated. Queiroz emphasized that the team aims to improve this record during their upcoming match against Colombia in Kansas City.
The 73-year-old manager, who took over the team in April, lauded his players for their innate competitive spirit, describing them as natural fighters. Team captain Jordan Ayew expressed hope that the squad could replicate Ghana’s historic performance in the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Ayew acknowledged the difficulty of the match against Colombia but insisted that the team remains confident in their ability to compete effectively and bring pride to their nation.
