GFA President Kurt Okraku says he is not overly focused on Black Stars’ upcoming World Cup showdown with England, describing the fixture as a rivalry match similar to Ghana’s encounters with Nigeria.
The Black Stars will face the Three Lions in a crucial Group L clash after opening their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama.
Speaking ahead of the game, Okraku suggested that while England are one of the tournament’s strongest sides, the occasion should not intimidate Ghana’s players.
“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 GFA President’s comments reflect the confidence within the Ghana camp following their winning start to the tournament and underline the significance of the fixture for both nations.
A match involving Ghana and England have attracted huge attention due to the historical connotations attached to the fixture. They have met each other once—friendly game in 2011. This will be their first ever competitive meeting.
With both teams entering the match on three points, the encounter could prove decisive in the race for qualification to the knockout stages. A positive result for Ghana would put Carlos Queiroz’s side in a strong position heading into their final group match against Croatia.
