‘We’re not here for holidays’ — Jordan Ayew fires warning ahead of Austria, Germany tests
Captain Jordan Ayew has underscored the importance of the Black Stars’ upcoming international friendlies against Austria and Germany, insisting the team is fully focused on delivering strong performances as part of preparations for future competitions.
Ghana will take on Austria in Vienna on Friday before travelling to Stuttgart to face Germany on Monday, with both matches expected to test the team’s readiness against high-level European opposition.
Speaking ahead of the fixtures, Ayew stressed that every opportunity to represent the country carries significance, regardless of the circumstances surrounding squad selection.
“We want to play for our country; we want to do well from our country. So, every game is important. Even though we know these two games are important, even previously the other games were important as well. Just that sometimes it is what it is, you know. Coming to these two games, listen, tomorrow is going to be a tough game, Monday will be a tough game as well. So, we will do our best.”
The forward expressed confidence in the team’s preparation, noting improvements across tactical, technical and physical aspects during training in Vienna.
“I think we are preparing well tactically, technically, physically. We really look good. So, let's see what happens tomorrow. I don't want to talk too much because obviously we've had a couple of days of training and what I've seen is positive. So, we're ready for tomorrow and we'll see if we can get a positive result because we want to get a positive result. Monday will be a tough game.”
Ayew added that the players are approaching the friendlies with seriousness, emphasising that the team is determined to compete at a high level rather than treat the matches as routine exercises.
“We are going to try to put in our best performance. Obviously, I think we are not here for holidays. We are here to work hard, to perform and to get good results. You know, it will not be easy, but it will also be the best chance to be successful tomorrow. It's going to be a tough game, a very tough game, because it's a high-performance team.”
Looking ahead, the captain said the matches form part of the team’s broader ambitions as they build towards major international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup.
“Going into the World Cup, I think it's not for me alone but it's a positive thing for us. As players, we are really looking forward to it, so let’s see how it goes. We have the ambition to come and get good results tomorrow. We are not coming here just for holidays or just to work. We are here to work hard, to perform and to get good results.”
The friendlies are expected to provide the technical team with a clearer assessment of the squad as Ghana continues to refine its preparations against top-tier opposition.
