Ghana President John Dramani Mahama says the country expects its footballers to give everything and “die a little” for success at the World Cup.
Mahama asked for the commitment at a farewell dinner for Kwesi Appiah’s squad on Thursday.
He said: “We expect you to die a little for your country. We respect our opponents but we don’t fear them.”
The Black Stars leave Ghana on Saturday to play warm-up matches in Europe and America ahead of their World Cup opener, against the USA on June 16 in Natal.
Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah believes the squad can better their performance in South Africa four years ago and reach the semi-finals.
The Black Stars narrowly failed to become Africa’s first semi-finalists four years ago when they lost on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals, having missed a spot-kick in the last moments of extra-time after Luis Suarez’s controversial deliberate handball.
“I think we will do better than we did last time,” Mensah told BBC Sport.
“If we can stick together and take it game by game, I believe we can stun the world in Brazil.”
Ghana are 3.50 to qualify from Group G and 10.00 to finish above Germany, Portugal and the USA to win the group.
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