Ghana captain Jordan Ayew has urged his side to tighten up after their Group L campaign ended in defeat at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars were beaten 2-1 by Croatia, a result that saw them finish third in the group but still progress to the Round of 32.
Ghana will now face Colombia on Saturday in what will be the first competitive meeting between the two nations.
Speaking to Flashscore, Ayew said the defeat had not dented morale but stressed the need for improvement ahead of the knockout stage.
“It’s a World Cup game, and you want to win all your matches and keep the positivity. The result has not affected the mood, and we will learn from our mistakes,” Ayew said.
The 34-year-old admitted Ghana struggled to retain possession and were punished for errors against the Croatians.
“We stay positive. On to the next game. It was a strange game. We were a bit sloppy in possession, and they capitalised on our mistakes. The most important thing is for us to focus on the next game because it’s either you stay or you go home,” the former Leicester City forward added.
Ghana’s clash with Colombia kicks off at 01:30 GMT and marks a crucial knockout-stage encounter for the Black Stars.
