Troost-Ekong Backs Ghana To Hold England In Crucial World Cup Clash

Former Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has thrown his support behind Ghana ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L showdown with England, predicting the Black Stars can earn a point when both sides meet on Tuesday in Foxborough.

Ghana head into the game on the back of a dramatic 1-0 win over Panama, secured by a 95th-minute strike from Caleb Yirenkyi in Toronto. The win denied Panama a first-ever World Cup point and gave Ghana a positive start to their campaign. Naija News reports that it was also the Black Stars’ sixth World Cup win in 16 matches, equalling Nigeria’s tournament record achieved in 21 games.

Despite the long-standing rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria, Troost-Ekong said he wants to see the Black Stars succeed on the global stage. Ghana famously defeated Nigeria in the race for a place at the 2022 World Cup, but the former Eagles skipper insists continental unity takes priority during the tournament.

“I would love Ghana to go and do well. I think the beauty of the World Cup, and I think all the teams, even when we’ve been at the World Cup before, we want to see the other African teams do well. I think it’s very important for the continent,” Troost-Ekong said as quoted by the Punch.

“Besides the rivalry, where we play against each other often, there’s also a lot of love for each other because we know the players well. Maybe from my perspective now, having retired from the national team, it’s easier to say that.

“I was very happy with their performance against Panama. Leading up to the game against England, there were a lot of positives. I thought they looked very resilient in that game. I think the introduction of the substitutes in the second half, especially Brandon Thomas-Asante and Abdul Fatawu, made a really big difference. I think they’ve given England something to think about.”

Troost-Ekong, who is now working as a television pundit after retiring from international football, highlighted Ghana’s resilience and praised the impact of substitutes Brandon Thomas-Asante and Abdul Fatawu in the opening win.

The Al Ahli Doha defender, however, admitted uncertainty over the availability of Thomas Partey, who missed the Panama match after being denied entry into Canada.

England opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia, with Harry Kane scoring twice before second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed the win for the Three Lions. Yet Troost-Ekong believes Ghana can exploit weaknesses in the English defence.

“I think picking up the three points against Panama will give them a chance to play confidently against England. I think, from what I’ve seen of England, there are definitely opportunities to take advantage of,” he said.

“So, if I were predicting that game, I’d probably say a draw because I could see both teams scoring.”