‘We will make Ghana and Africa proud’, says Jordan Ayew ahead of Colombia knockout test

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ayew-jordan/6Nj04peg/"]Jordan Ayew[/a] has issued a personal guarantee on the eve of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a]’s round-of-32 tie against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a] at Arrowhead Stadium, telling supporters back home and across the continent that the Black Stars will represent them with pride when they walk out in Kansas City on Saturday midnight.[/p][p]Speaking at the pre-match press conference alongside head coach Carlos Queiroz, the Ghana captain framed the reset from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a] in Philadelphia as an emphatic one.[/p][p]That result cost Ghana second place in Group L but with Spain’s prior win over Uruguay had earlier sealed the Black Stars’ progression as one of the eight best third-placed teams, Jordan insisted the group finale was a one-time setback.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /][p]“Personally I think the Croatia game was a one-off. Colombia is a knockout game and will be totally different and we’ll be ready for that challenge. It’s a top team and it’s going to be a difficult game but I’m confident that with what the manager has told us we will be ready for the challenge.”[/p][p]“Tomorrow is going to be another tight game. We’re going to do our best and put on a show and see what will happen. What I can guarantee is that we will make Ghana and Africa proud,” he added.[/p][p]Ghana were sluggish in the first half against Croatia conceding from a Petar Sučić’s long-range strike before substitute Derrick Luckassen equalised in the 73rd from an Ernest Nuamah free-kick delivery.[/p][p]Nikola Vlašić then headed home Luka Modrić’s corner in the 83rd to settle the game and, in the process, ensure Ghana slid to third in Group L behind England and Croatia.[/p][p]Looking ahead to the tie against Colombia, Jordan was upbeat that the fixture had come at the right time for the Black Stars.[/p][p]“We are ready. We’ve been growing in the tournament. We want to make sure we win.”[/p][h2][b]A first-ever meeting (A Queiroz reunion)[/b][/h2][p]Saturday’s tie is the first-ever meeting between Ghana and Colombia at any level. It is also, in a neat sub-plot, a Queiroz homecoming.[/p][p]The Portuguese trainer coached Colombia between February 2019 and December 2020, and the Arrowhead Stadium will host a reunion between him and several of his former internationals.[/p][p]The pedigree matchup on paper is uncomfortable for the Black Stars. Ghana have failed to win any of their three previous World Cup meetings with South American opposition: a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in 2006, the penalty-shootout heartbreak against Uruguay in 2010 and a 2-0 loss to the same Uruguayans in 2022.[/p][p]Colombia, by contrast, arrive as Group K winners with a perfect record: three wins from three, including a 1-0 win over DR Congo in their final group game.[/p][p]Asked about the pressure of facing an-inform Colombia who are unbeated in this tournament, Jordan said: “Everyone will have to show up. We flourish under pressure.”[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/colombia-G02s4PCS/ghana-nNBjHale/?mid=IF40Fk9U"]Follow Colombia vs Ghana on Flashscore.[/a][/p][image alt="Owuraku Ampofo" id="345f5fd0-6a26-4f45-8078-6462582c5da7" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="0f4b6390-7662-4f71-90c1-c946c439efa4" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]