Ghana’s national football team is concentrating on their opening World Cup match against Panama, setting aside thoughts of their high-profile encounter with England later in the tournament. Forward Jordan Ayew, who played for clubs including Aston Villa, Swansea City, Crystal Palace, and Leicester City, emphasized the importance of focusing on the immediate challenge rather than looking ahead.

The 34-year-old Ayew, who contributed seven goals and seven assists during Ghana’s qualifying campaign, noted his strong connection to England, having spent much of his professional career there. He acknowledged the anticipation surrounding the Ghana-England match scheduled for Tuesday but insisted that the team must first secure a positive result against Panama.

“I’ve spent most of my adult life in England. It’s a place I like a lot,” Ayew said, referencing his years with several English clubs. He also mentioned communicating with teammates like Marc Guehi about the upcoming England game but stressed that “now is not the time to focus on that. We’d be doing ourselves a disservice if we did not focus on the first game and get the job done.”

Ayew offered praise for Panama, warning that the team should not be underestimated. He described Panama as one of the strongest teams in Central America, adding that they are likely well-supported by fans attending the match. “They will probably have more people there than us and have every reason to be confident,” he said.

As Ghana prepares for their World Cup opener, the focus remains firmly on overcoming Panama before turning attention to what promises to be a marquee matchup against England.