Former Black Stars defender Jonathan Mensah has praised Ghana’s resilience at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the team’s exit at the Round of 32 should not take away from the progress made during the tournament.
Ghana’s campaign came to an end following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia, with an early goal proving decisive in Kansas City as the South Americans advanced to the Round of 16.
The result ended Ghana’s hopes of progressing further, but Mensah believes there were encouraging signs throughout the tournament under head coach Carlos Queiroz that point to long-term improvement.
Reflecting on the match, the experienced centre-back highlighted how conceding early made the task significantly more difficult for the Black Stars against a well-organised Colombian side.
“It’s unfortunate that we go down a goal and then we couldn’t get the goal back. Conceding first 15 minutes is always tough,” Mensah said.
He explained that while Ghana worked hard both in possession and out of possession, they struggled to break down Colombia’s defensive structure and create enough opportunities to change the outcome of the match.
“We didn’t create enough chances to get back into the game. It’s unfortunate, but we are proud of the guys,” he added.
Despite the disappointment of elimination, Mensah pointed to Ghana’s achievement in reaching the knockout stage as a significant milestone, noting that it was the first time the Black Stars had progressed that far since 2010.
He urged the team to remain ambitious while also recognising the importance of the step forward made at the tournament.
“Getting out of the group is good, but you want to always remain humble and hungry. At this point, we can only be hungry,” he said.
Mensah also expressed confidence in the squad’s future, particularly given the presence of several young players who gained valuable experience on the world stage.
“They will grow from this. I’m proud of the boys and the whole Ghana is proud of them,” Mensah noted.
According to the former captain, Ghana’s overall displays in the tournament showed clear improvement, especially in terms of defensive organisation and collective unity.
Under Queiroz, the Black Stars demonstrated greater structure and resilience, managing to navigate a difficult group before eventually falling at the first knockout hurdle.
Although the defeat to Colombia brought an end to their World Cup journey, Mensah believes the experience will serve as an important foundation for the future as Ghana turn their attention to upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He stressed that the tournament should be viewed not only through the lens of elimination, but also as a platform for development that can strengthen the team going forward.
For Mensah, the key message is that Ghana’s progress is evident, and if the team continues on its current trajectory, the signs point to a stronger and more competitive future for the Black Stars on the international stage.
