World Cup 2026: Andre Ayew urges Black Stars to play with courage

Andre Ayew has urged Ghana's players to approach their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with courage as the Black Stars prepare for a crucial opening Group D clash against Panama on Wednesday.

The former Ghana captain, who was not included in Carlos Queiroz's World Cup squad, delivered a message of encouragement on Instagram ahead of the country's first match of the tournament.

"Play with courage. Play with discipline. Play with heart. Fight for every ball, every minute, and for every teammate beside you.

"Difficult moments will come. Challenges will come. But champions are not made in comfort; they are made in unity and resolve when it matters most.

"Win, draw, or lose, one game does not define a team. Your character, resilience, and unity do."

The Black Stars booked their place at the World Cup after an impressive qualifying campaign, finishing ahead of Madagascar and Mali with eight wins from 10 matches.

The tournament marks Ghana's fifth World Cup appearance and offers another opportunity to recreate the success of the 2010 side that reached the quarter-finals.

Ghana, however, enter the competition under pressure after a difficult run of results. The four-time African champions have won just one of their last seven World Cup matches and have suffered six defeats in their previous seven outings, although they ended that sequence with a 1-1 draw against Wales.