The Black Stars touched down in Philadelphia on Thursday evening knowing that a single point against Croatia on Saturday would end a sixteen-year wait for a place in the World Cup knockout rounds. Carlos Queiroz’s squad, joint top of Group L with four points, arrived from their Rhode Island base after a recovery session that followed the goalless draw with England at Gillette Stadium. A final training session is scheduled for Friday at Lincoln Financial Field, where Ghana will seek the result that guarantees progression.

The path to this juncture was built on defensive discipline and a late-blooming goalkeeper. Benjamin Asare, a 33-year-old who once worked as a bus conductor and overcame a broken leg in 2021, produced a series of saves to frustrate England’s attack, facing 19 shots and keeping a clean sheet that left both sides on four points. Queiroz, who rarely singles out individuals, described Asare’s display as “brilliant” and credited the collective resilience of a team that, in the midfielder Kwasi Sibo’s words, “fought from the first minute to 90 minutes.” Ghana opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama, and the draw against England was secured through a compact low block that, according to former international Laryea Kingston, may need tactical adjustment against opponents who have now studied it closely.

Off the pitch, the squad received a morale-boosting visit from a high-level delegation led by Ghana’s ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, and including the sports and foreign ministers. Businessman Ibrahim Mahama, who had pledged $5 million to the campaign, told the players he would not only fulfil the promise but increase it, and announced a personal bonus separate from government rewards. The visitors relayed a message from President John Dramani Mahama, who, the foreign minister said, is “rooting strongly” for the team and has prepared a “special package” for their return.

Croatia, by contrast, arrive in Philadelphia with three points after a 4-2 defeat by England and a 1-0 win over Panama. Zlatko Dalic’s side, semi-finalists in the last two World Cups, must win to be certain of advancing, a dynamic that, viewed from West African football circles, places the pressure squarely on the European side. Ghana’s camp has stressed that the team will adopt a more attacking mindset than the cautious approach used against England, with Sibo insisting they are targeting all three points to top the group.

A draw would guarantee Ghana at least second place and a spot in the Round of 32; a victory would likely secure first place should England falter against Panama. Defeat, however, would leave the Black Stars dependent on the outcome in the other group fixture and the compilation of third-place rankings, a scenario the squad is determined to avoid.