Gideon Mensah: We are proud of the journey, but the final result is inevitably regrettable.

Ghanaian defender Gideon Mensah stated that although the team suffered a disappointing 0-1 defeat to Colombia in the 2026 World Cup qualifying round, the entire team will still learn from the positive lessons and experiences gained in the tournament. The match, held in Kansas City, saw Colombia secure a victory thanks to a 14th-minute goal from John Arias, ending Ghana's run in the first round of the knockout stage.  

After the match, Gideon Mensah said, "We are proud of this journey, but the result is inevitably a bit of a disappointment. We went into the game with confidence, hoping to win, but ultimately we couldn't. All the players gave their all, hoping to win for Ghana and advance to the next round, but unfortunately we couldn't do it."  

"This is indeed hard to accept, but we must grit our teeth and get through it, and then keep looking forward. Next, we will return to our respective lives and clubs, prepare for the next stage of the qualifiers, and strive to win every game. Even if we can't win, we must show the right attitude and let everyone see that we are ready to meet the challenges ahead."  

Despite the disappointing exit, Gideon Mensah still believes this World Cup has positive value for the team's long-term development. He said, "Of course, we are not satisfied with this defeat, and the atmosphere in the locker room is rather heavy, but there are still many commendable aspects to this tournament, which will be helpful in the future."  

Speaking about the fans' support, Gideon Mensah expressed his gratitude. He said, "We are very grateful to the Ghanaian fans who have been supporting us all along, which is not easy. Because of the time difference, many people have to stay up late to watch the game, not because they don't want to rest, but out of their love for the team. We will never take this support for granted. We originally hoped to make them go to sleep happily with a victory, but in the end, we couldn't achieve that."  

Image source: Internet/Ghana National Team Official Website