Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo says Ghana are embracing the pressure of knockout-stage football at the 2026 World Cup, insisting the squad is ready to compete with the tournament’s elite as they prepare to face Colombia in the Round of 32.
Ghana finished third in Group L to secure their place in the last 32 and will meet the South Americans in Kansas City on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the match, the 26-year-old acknowledged the growing expectations on the team but said it reflects the progress Ghana have made in recent years.
“There is definitely pressure, but I feel like the pressure is because we’ve got such a good team. But over the years, it’s like our team’s got so much better. And now we feel like we’re on the world stage. We want to compete with all the top nations,” the Manchester City forward said.
Despite scoring twice in the group stage, Semenyo believes the current group of players is capable of matching any opposition, rejecting suggestions that Ghana should be viewed as underdogs against Colombia.
“We’ve got the same talent. So why are we not up there? So I feel like we’re at a stage now where we’re getting there. We’re getting there, slowly building, and hopefully in the next years to come, we can compete.”
Ghana’s squad has already arrived in Kansas City and is expected to complete its final training sessions before the high-stakes encounter.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, with kick-off at 01:30 GMT.
