Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has downplayed the pressure surrounding the Black Stars upcoming FIFA World Cup clash against England, insisting the fixture should be viewed as a rivalry match rather than an occasion to fear.
The Black Stars head into the highly anticipated Group L encounter on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama, while England also began their campaign with a win.
Speaking ahead of the showdown, Okraku expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to compete with the Three Lions and suggested the game carries a similar intensity to Ghana’s famous rivalry with Nigeria.
“I’m not thinking too much about the game against England. For me, Ghana against England is a derby like Ghana v Nigeria,” he told 3Sports.
The comments reflect the growing belief within Ghana’s camp following their winning start to the tournament and underline the determination to approach the match without intimidation.
Although England are considered one of the favourites for the competition, Okraku believes the Black Stars have every reason to be confident as they prepare for their first-ever competitive meeting with the European giants.
The two nations have met only once before, in an international friendly in 2011, making Tuesday’s contest a historic occasion on the World Cup stage.
With both teams level on three points, the result could play a major role in determining which side advances to the knockout stages.
A victory for Ghana would put Carlos Queiroz’s men will put them in a commanding position ahead of their final group match against Croatia and move them one step closer to securing a place in the Round of 32.