Ayew: We will fight for World Cup ticket...Warns of tough test in September

Black Stars captain, Jordan Ayew, has cautioned that Ghana’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mali and Chad in September will be tough, but he remains optimistic about the team's chances of booking a place at the tournament.

Speaking to the ghanafa.org, the 33-year-old Leicester City forward acknowledged the challenges ahead but insisted that the team was prepared to fight until the very end and would not drop their guards.

"We have Chad and Mali in September; it won’t be easy, same as Central African Republic and Comoros," Ayew noted, adding, "But with this kind of mentality and team spirit, we will succeed."

Ayew praised the team’s performance in their previous qualifiers against Madagascar and Chad in March, which saw Ghana collect crucial points to climb to the top of the group standings.

“The team fought hard for the points against Chad and Madagascar in March, and that has put us in a very good place on top of the table,” he said.

With four matches remaining, the Black Stars skipper stressed that the players were not allowing their current position to breed complacency.

“It is not yet over. We have four more matches to play, and we are focused on winning them,” he said.

After failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Ayew believes the World Cup offers a fresh opportunity to redeem themselves on the international stage.

“I think we have a very good chance of making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” he stated.

The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ghana, who last qualified for the World Cup in 2022, are aiming for a fifth appearance at the global showpiece.

Ayew, a veteran of three World Cups, concluded by stating the renewed mentality and team spirit in the squad, which, he believed, would be key to success in the remaining qualifiers.