Gideon Mensah has promised Ghana will bounce back from Tuesday's 4-2 defeat to The Gambia, saying the team has the chance to make Ghanaians happy again in the remaining qualifiers.
Speaking after Ghana surrendered a two-goal lead at the Accra Sports Stadium, Mensah said luck was not on the side of the team.
On the game
I think we all saw the game; we started very well with two goals. And I think it is one of those games where we have to accept that luck was not on our side. We probably didn't perform as we were supposed to on the field and me, as captain today, I also take responsibility for everything that happened on the field. We have to protect the boys, protect the national team. Like the coach said, we can take the criticism and everything that is supposed to come to us. At the end of the day, we are the players and we are supposed to accept whatever comes from the people we play for. We have the chance to do it again and to make people happy again.
On the team lacking urgency
First of all, we had so many players who are first-timers in the team. Me, for example, I have been here for a while now. I did what I was supposed to do, to support the boys, to help myself, to help the nation win the game. But we can't hide from the fact that we had so many newcomers in the team.
When we talk about newcomers, it has to do with mentality, it has to do with urgency, knowing how it feels and what it takes to play for Ghana and to wear the Ghana jersey. This is not something we can switch on overnight. It takes time for new players to learn that playing for Ghana comes with a whole lot. It is not like being at a club. Playing for Ghana, where everybody lives off football, is completely different from club football. Everybody is happy when Ghana wins a game. I think that was the part we were missing.
If you saw parts of the game, when we scored the second goal, everybody was literally on the sideline. These are things you can't learn overnight. It takes time for some of the boys to learn. For me as captain today, I tried to do what I could, to lead the team as much as I could. But at the end of the day, we lost the game, and probably the effort I put in will not be seen. But I think I did what I was supposed to do on the field.
On appreciating the new lads who showed courage to honour the invitation
I think everybody here will agree with me that at some point we need to focus on appreciating the boys who are here to represent the country. There have been some names who withdrew from the national team, not because of lies or lack of commitment, but because they are injured. But these other boys showed courage to come and represent the nation. So, at some point we should also appreciate them. Me, as captain, I am proud of them for not hiding and for coming out to play for Ghana.
On possible changes ahead of remaining matches
There are a lot of things that need to change in the team. Like the coach said, there is a whole lot to build together. We have a lot of good players and every player in the national team is good and talented. Everybody is showing that they are eager to play for the national team. But at some point, it goes beyond talent, it goes beyond getting your call-up and picking your bag to come to Ghana.
To play for the national team, we need to put it in our minds that playing for Ghana comes with a lot of responsibility. These are things we need to learn. As for talent, as for running, as for playing football, everybody knows we can do it. But there is some urgency and some spirit we need to have when we play for Ghana. In the end, we have a whole lot to learn.
And I think today, and in the game against Cote d'Ivoire, I would say I am proud of the boys. Nobody was hiding. Everybody showed that no matter the mistakes, they will show up for the national team, for their families, themselves, their communities and for their people.
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