Ghana midfielder Kwesi Sibo has disclosed that Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz urged his players to push for victory against England after sensing vulnerability in the Three Lions during their FIFA World Cup Group L encounter.
The two sides played out a hard-fought goalless draw in Foxborough, but according to Sibo, Ghana entered the second half believing all three points were within reach.
The midfielder revealed that Queiroz’s halftime message focused on England’s nervousness and encouraged the Black Stars to be more aggressive after the break.
“At half time, the coach told us that England were nervous and we should push for a win,” Sibo said after the match.
Ghana responded positively to the instructions and produced a confident second-half display, creating several dangerous moments against one of the tournament favourites.
The Black Stars growing belief was evident as they matched England physically and tactically, frustrating the 1966 world champions for long periods of the contest.
Despite failing to find a breakthrough, Ghana left the pitch convinced they had shown they could compete with one of the strongest teams at the World Cup.
The draw followed Ghana’s opening 1-0 victory over Panama, leaving Queiroz’s side unbeaten and firmly in the hunt for a place in the knockout rounds.
With a decisive Group L clash against Croatia on Saturday still to come, confidence continues to grow within the Black Stars camp as they look to take the next step in their World Cup journey.