Dede Ayew: If we pass this group, we can go very far

Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew believes the Black Stars would surprise the world should they manage to progress out of their difficult group at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Stuck in Group G alongside Portugal, USA and Germany, the Stars lost their opening group fixture to the USA at the Estadio das Dunas in Natal by 2-1 before giving away a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 with Die Mannschaft of Germany last Saturday at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza.


By the results, Ghana boasts only a single point but have Portugal to thank for snatching a late 2-2 draw against the USA on Sunday night which all but simplifies Ghana’s aim of a win in their decider against the former at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia on Thursday while hoping for a favourable score in the Germany-USA tie. Favourable results in the last two group matches, both set to be played concurrently, should hopefully secure Ghana their third straight progression into the knock-out stage of the World Cup on their third time of asking.


“If we pass this group, I believe we can go very far. It all depends on us,” the Marseille winger said on Ghana’s chances at the FIFA flagship event.


Ghana conceded an 86th minute goal courtesy a John Brooks header from a corner kick which gave the Americans their first victory over the Black Stars before yet conceding from another corner to draw 2-2 with Germany, the latter a considerably good result and Ayew remains clearly aware of the possible consequence.

“We should have won the first game. We didn't, we put ourselves in this situation. Now we have to do everything to come out of this situation – it's as simple as that. If we don't go through, then it means that we didn't deserve to go through.


“We need to be honest with ourselves, but I believe that we've trained hard enough. We don’t want to go home early, we want to stay here as long as possible, so we're going to do everything to stay. But if we have to go home, we'll go with our heads high and with no regrets,” the former FIFA U-20 World Cup winner said.


Ghana currently sit third in Group G, three less than both Germany and the USA but tied on points with Portugal ahead of Thursday’s crucial encounter.