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Doha, Qatar – Ghana’s nationwide soccer group captain Andre Ayew is assured that the Black Stars can be a troublesome group to beat on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Qatar on November 20.
The Ghana squad needs to be match with the intention to placed on the efficiency he’s hoping for, Ayew, who performs for Al Sadd soccer membership in Qatar’s capital Doha, emphasised.
After lacking the 2018 match, the Black Stars certified for this yr’s occasion, the place they’re in the identical group as South Korea, Portugal and Uruguay, the group that knocked them out of the 2010 version in South Africa.
Al Jazeera spoke to Ayew in regards to the nationwide aspect’s preparation, possibilities and expectations, in addition to the good thing about his expertise taking part in in Qatar.
Al Jazeera: The World Cup is lower than two months away. How is the Black Stars’ preparation?
Ayew: All the pieces is in place for us to have a profitable World Cup. We will need to have the very best preparation potential however, most significantly, all your gamers have to be match at the moment. We performed Brazil, we’ll play Nicaragua and Switzerland earlier than the World Cup. They’re all massive video games that can be robust regardless that they’re friendlies.
These matches are useful as a result of we put ourselves to the check and are available again as a group to take care of bonding and unity. Usually, we have now two to a few weeks earlier than the World Cup, however this time we solely have about 9 days. It’s not supreme however we have now to adapt.
Al Jazeera: What are Ghana’s probabilities of reaching the knockout stage from the so-called “Group of Loss of life”?
Ayew: We’ve an opportunity. No one sees us as favourites, which is anticipated. So we all know we’re not going into any of the matches as favourites however we’re there to struggle and make an impression. Little question will probably be a really tough group for each group and all we have now to do is be prepared, targeted, decided, full squad and have a little bit of luck.
If we have now our full squad, we will severely disrupt lots of groups. I’m not involved as a result of I do know what Ghana is able to.
Al Jazeera: Will the sport between Ghana and Uruguay be a revenge mission after the heartbreak of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa?
Ayew: As group chief, I don’t consider we should always view this recreation as revenge. As a substitute, we have to be good sufficient to recognise that it’s a match we want factors from. We are able to’t ignore historical past, however what Luis Suarez [Uruguay footballer] did is one thing I may have performed in the identical scenario [used his hand to stop a goal-bound shot in 2010]. It damage us all. However that’s a part of soccer and it occurred years in the past.
We simply need to win in opposition to Uruguay after the whole lot that has been mentioned within the media. As a participant, in the event you go right into a recreation with the intent of retaliation, you can also make lots of errors and be hyper. We simply want to remain calm, comply with the plan and attempt to win the sport, or do no matter we will to advance to the subsequent stage.
Al Jazeera: What are Ghanaians’ expectations of the Black Stars within the World Cup? Can they be met?
Ayew: Ghanaians count on tenacity, willpower and a willingness to die for the jersey. If you come to the World Cup, you face super-strong sides and we’ve proven over time that we will compete with them and, in some instances, beat them.
However compete and present that you’re keen to die to your nation. If it ends in a passable end result, thank God. If it doesn’t, so long as the complete nation feels they’ve represented the nation and Africa in the suitable means, that’s a very powerful factor for me.
We’re within the World Cup not solely to showcase Ghanaian soccer, however Africa as nicely. As a result of there are solely 5 African representatives, all groups will obtain African help every time they play and that is how we should always all the time be behind our personal fellow brothers with the intention to make historical past on this match.
Throughout the African Cup of Nations, we’re all preventing for our international locations, however in the course of the World Cup, we’re all preventing for the continent. Additionally, if we will current a superb picture of Africa on the sector and compete in opposition to the highest groups, everybody can be happy.
Al Jazeera: Ought to Africa have extra slots at a World Cup ranging from 2026?
Ayew: If we have now extra groups, that can be improbable. It’s about time. We’ve essentially the most international locations, however we’re underrepresented, and the African qualifiers are all the time tough and annoying. We’ve lots of massive groups, and the expectations are excessive, so will probably be tough for the entire massive groups to qualify with solely 5 slots.
If we will safe extra berths, we can have a greater probability of seeing an African group attain the semi-finals and even win the World Cup.
Al Jazeera: What are your ideas on the brand new gamers who’ve switched allegiance to play for the Black Stars? Will they strengthen the group?
Ayew: The gamers are good, and qualifying for the World Cup makes you very engaging. Why not let the boys come? The door is open for any Ghanaian who needs to play for and assist the nation, however you will need to include the identical willpower you set into your membership, the identical want, and you can’t count on the whole lot in your European membership to be the identical within the nationwide group as a result of there’s a time for the group to adapt.
I absolutely help them and want them the very best of luck, particularly whenever you include a powerful want to succeed. When you’ve got the suitable angle and want to sweat for the Ghana jersey, I’m greater than keen to welcome you, regardless that I’m not the coach however a longtime member of the group.
The newcomers are proficient, however we have already got a powerful group that certified for the World Cup, so each place is aggressive. Other than senior gamers who might have a bonus, I consider nobody is assured a spot within the squad simply but. Everybody should show their high quality on the sector and everybody has an opportunity, giving the coach extra choices and options, formations, and I consider it’s useful to have new gamers with the suitable mentality.
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