Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has sent a message of support to the Black Stars of Ghana ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup group match against England. The Nigerian defender, who retired from international duty, expressed confidence that Ghana can secure at least a point against the Three Lions.
Ghana's Dramatic Win Over Panama
Ghana secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama at Toronto Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Nordsjaelland forward Caleb Yirenkyi scored the winning goal in the 90+5 minute to hand the African giants a dramatic late winner. The Black Stars are one of 10 African representatives at the tournament, which is being held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Ghana finished top of Group I in the CAF qualifying series with 25 points, recording eight wins, one draw, and a loss to Comoros. They are currently second in Group L, while England top the log after a 4-2 win over Croatia.
Troost-Ekong Backs Ghana Against England
Speaking to ESPN, Troost-Ekong stressed that positive results for African nations would help elevate the profile of football on the continent. The Al Ahli SC defender insisted that strong performances from African representatives would be beneficial for the continent as a whole.
“I would love Ghana to go and do well. I think the beauty of the World Cup, and I think all the teams, even when we’ve been at the World Cup before, we want to see the other African teams do well, I think it’s very important for the continent,” Troost-Ekong said.
“Besides the rivalry, where we play against each other, often there’s also a lot of love for each other, because we know the players well, and maybe from my perspective now, having retired from the national team, it’s easier to say that.”
England will face Ghana at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Tuesday, June 23, according to Sky Sports.
Nigerian Journalist Calls for Unity
Nigerian sports journalist Aderonke Ojo called on Super Eagles fans to transfer their support to the Ghanaian national team at the World Cup. Speaking exclusively to Legit.ng, Ojo said supporting Ghana is no different from supporting Nigeria’s Super Eagles, and that African nations should unite behind one another on the global stage.
“I am also rooting for Ghana to succeed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. If they do well, the entire continent will be praised,” Ojo said. “Morocco recently climbed to fifth in the FIFA rankings, and that achievement has brought a lot of positivity to African football. We are one family. Whenever an African team succeeds on the world stage, it reflects positively on the continent as a whole.”
Ojo noted that Ghana have often supported Nigeria during major international tournaments, and the same spirit should be reciprocated.
Ghana’s World Cup History
Ghana are featuring in their fifth World Cup, having only missed the 2018 edition in Russia since qualifying for the first time in Germany 2006. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) shared a post on their official X page with a message for the Black Stars as they prepare to represent Africa on the global stage.
