Former Ghana international Jonathan Mensah has thrown his full support behind the Black Stars ahead of their highly anticipated Round of 32 clash against Colombia at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup. The experienced defender believes Ghana have all the qualities needed to compete with one of South America’s strongest teams and has urged the squad to approach the match with confidence rather than fear.
Ghana have enjoyed an encouraging campaign at the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup, qualifying for the knockout stage after finishing third in Group L. Their performances have restored belief among supporters and shown that the Black Stars remain capable of competing against some of the world’s best teams.
The upcoming encounter against Colombia promises to be one of Ghana’s biggest tests of the tournament. Colombia have impressed throughout the group stage with disciplined performances and quality attacking football, but Mensah believes Ghana should focus more on their own strengths than the reputation of their opponents.
Speaking about the Black Stars’ chances, the former Ghana defender insisted that confidence, preparation and belief will be the key ingredients if Ghana are to progress to the Round of 16.
Ghana’s World Cup campaign has restored belief
When the tournament began, expectations surrounding Ghana were mixed. The Black Stars entered the World Cup after undergoing significant changes under new head coach Carlos Queiroz, who took charge only a few months before the competition.
Many questioned whether the Portuguese coach would have enough time to organise the team properly before the tournament.
However, Ghana quickly silenced many critics with an impressive start. The Black Stars opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama. Although the match was far from easy, the three points proved extremely valuable and immediately placed Ghana in a strong position in Group L.
The victory also gave the players confidence ahead of their next challenge against England, one of the tournament favourites.
Against England, Ghana produced one of their finest defensive displays in recent years. Despite England dominating possession for long periods, the Black Stars remained disciplined, organised and determined throughout the contest.
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare delivered another outstanding performance while the defenders successfully frustrated England’s talented attacking players.
The result was a goalless draw that earned Ghana another valuable point and moved them closer to qualification.
That disciplined display attracted praise from football fans and experts across the world. Even England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted his team struggled to break down Ghana’s compact defensive system.
Croatia defeat could not stop qualification
By the time Ghana faced Croatia in their final Group L match, qualification had already been secured following results elsewhere in the tournament.
The Black Stars therefore entered the match knowing they would be progressing to the knockout rounds regardless of the result.
Carlos Queiroz made several changes to his starting lineup as he attempted to keep key players fresh for the Round of 32.
Croatia eventually secured a 2-1 victory in Philadelphia after goals from Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic cancelled out Derrick Luckassen’s equaliser.
Although the defeat prevented Ghana from finishing higher in the group standings, it did little to damage the team’s overall confidence. Instead, attention immediately shifted towards the knockout stage, where an even bigger challenge now awaits.
Jonathan Mensah pleased with Ghana’s progress
Jonathan Mensah believes Ghana have every reason to be proud of what they have achieved so far. The experienced defender praised the importance of winning the opening match against Panama, saying it laid the foundation for qualification.
“I was glad for the boys getting three points in the first game; very important, and that obviously helped us to qualify. I’m glad we did that. Now we recover, prepare and go again,” he said.
Mensah explained that winning the opening fixture relieved pressure on the players and allowed them to approach the remaining group matches with greater confidence.
According to him, the early victory gave Ghana the platform needed to build momentum throughout the tournament. He believes the players deserve credit for remaining focused despite facing difficult opponents.
Croatia match was mentally different
Mensah also shared his thoughts on Ghana’s defeat to Croatia. Rather than criticising the players, he suggested the circumstances surrounding the match naturally affected the team’s mentality.
Since qualification had already been secured before kick-off, the emotional intensity was different compared to the previous matches.
“It was a bizarre game against Croatia from my perspective. When you know you are already through to the knockout stage, the sense of urgency wasn’t there, a couple of changes were made, but I’m glad the team came out of the game healthy,” he added.
The former defender believes that avoiding injuries may prove just as valuable as the result itself. With the knockout stage demanding maximum intensity, keeping key players fit is now Ghana’s biggest priority.
No fear ahead of Colombia showdown
Looking ahead to the Round of 32, Mensah made it clear that Ghana should not fear Colombia. Instead, he believes careful planning and proper preparation will give the Black Stars an opportunity to spring a surprise.
“We don’t fear anyone; we just need to prepare according to our strengths and do proper scouting of opponents,” he told TV3 in an interview.
His comments reflect the confidence that has gradually grown around the Ghana camp since the start of the tournament.
Rather than worrying about Colombia’s impressive reputation, Mensah wants Ghana to trust the qualities that have already carried them into the knockout rounds. He believes confidence, discipline and teamwork will be more important than individual talent.
Carlos Queiroz has transformed Ghana
Much of Ghana’s improvement has been credited to Carlos Queiroz. Since replacing Otto Addo earlier this year, the veteran coach has brought tactical organisation and defensive stability to the Black Stars. Under Queiroz, Ghana have looked far more compact and difficult to break down.
The experienced Portuguese coach has repeatedly insisted that his team always plays to win regardless of the opponent. That mentality has helped create a stronger belief within the squad.
Several players have also praised the coach for giving them confidence and ensuring everyone understands their tactical responsibilities. The unity within the squad has become one of Ghana’s biggest strengths.
Experienced players leading the way
Jonathan Mensah also knows the importance of experienced leaders in tournament football. Players like Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey and others have provided calm leadership throughout the competition. Their experience has helped younger members of the squad settle into the pressure of playing at the World Cup.
At the same time, emerging talents such as Kwasi Sibo, Benjamin Asare and Derrick Luckassen have taken their opportunities impressively.
This blend of youth and experience has given Ghana balance across the pitch. It is one of the reasons many observers believe the Black Stars could still enjoy a memorable tournament.
Colombia will provide a major test
There is no doubt Colombia represent one of Ghana’s toughest opponents so far. The South Americans possess technical quality, attacking flair and plenty of international experience.
Their unbeaten run during the tournament demonstrates why they are considered one of the favourites to reach the latter stages.
Their disciplined performance against England proved they are capable of frustrating elite opposition when they remain organised.
Against Colombia, Ghana will likely need another strong defensive display while taking advantage of any opportunities that come their way on the counterattack or from set pieces.
The margins in knockout football are often extremely small. One moment of brilliance, one mistake or one important save can completely change the outcome of a match.
Ghana dreaming of another historic World Cup run
The Black Stars famously reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, producing one of the greatest campaigns by an African nation.
Although the challenge becomes significantly more difficult from this point onward, the players have already shown resilience, discipline and determination throughout the tournament.
The former defender has urged the players to remain confident, stay focused and continue believing in themselves.
With Carlos Queiroz guiding the team from the touchline and experienced leaders inspiring the squad on the pitch, Ghana will head into the Round of 32 believing they have every chance of overcoming Colombia.
The knockout stage now presents a completely different challenge, but it also offers a huge opportunity.
Victory over Colombia would send the Black Stars into the Round of 16 and move them one step closer to writing another unforgettable chapter in Ghanaian football history.
For Jonathan Mensah, the message is simple: Ghana should respect every opponent, but fear none. With proper preparation, tactical discipline and belief in their own abilities, the Black Stars have everything required to continue their impressive World Cup journey and make the nation proud once again.
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