Ayew Calls Croatia Loss 'Weird' But Insists Black Stars Spirit Remains Unbroken

Black Stars skipper Jordan Ayew has called on Ghanaians to keep faith in the national team following Saturday's defeat to Croatia in their final Group L fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026, stressing that the loss has not shaken the squad's belief ahead of the knockout rounds.

Ghana had already booked their place in the Round of 32 before kick-off, courtesy of earlier results under the expanded 48-team tournament format, meaning the Croatia game carried little pressure in terms of qualification. Nevertheless, Ayew acknowledged that the performance fell below the standards the team set for themselves.

"We stay positive and on to the next game. Today was a weird game. We were a bit sloppy and they capitalised on our mistakes," the experienced forward said after the final whistle, accepting that Croatia punished lapses in concentration from the Ghanaian side.

The Black Stars had impressed in their opening two fixtures, beating Panama 1-0 in a tightly contested opener before holding England to a creditable draw — results that proved enough to secure their place in the next round alongside the Three Lions. The defeat to Croatia ended what had been an unbeaten group stage run up to that point.

Ayew was keen to frame the loss as a learning opportunity rather than a cause for alarm, insisting the squad remains united and focused on correcting their errors before the knockout phase begins. He noted that mental strength would be critical from this point onwards, with every subsequent match now carrying the threat of elimination.

With their Round of 32 place confirmed, Ghana will now shift their full attention to preparing for the next opponent, hoping to rediscover the sharpness and discipline that earned positive results against Panama and England earlier in the tournament.