Michael Essien warns of pressure on Ghana at 2026 World Cup

Legendary Ghanaian footballer Michael Essien has said that the Black Stars will face a tough task at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ghana has been placed in Group L and will compete against England, Croatia, and Panama for a place in the knockout stage.

Speaking on the team’s readiness for the tournament, Essien noted that missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was a huge disappointment.

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The FC Nordsjælland assistant coach emphasised that the World Cup will be a perfect opportunity for the team to impress fans, despite the difficulty of their group.

“Of course it was a big disappointment, but in football, you have to move on from that. The good thing in football is that you always have the next game to make things right.

“That’s a tough group, but there are always tough games to play, and it’s up to you to win them. They should take every game as it comes and do their best. It’s a tournament, anything can happen. You just have to make sure you win your games and keep moving. Let’s see what they can do,” Essien told FIFA.com.

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