By Ashiadey Dotse
Ghanaian defender Gideon Mensah recently shared how team captain Andre Ayew helped him stay calm during his World Cup debut. In 2022, Mensah played his first World Cup match for Ghana’s Black Stars, as the team returned to the tournament after missing the 2018 edition.
Heading into the competition, Abdul Baba Rahman was Ghana’s first-choice left-back, playing in the warm-up game against Switzerland and the first World Cup match against Portugal. However, pressure on head coach Otto Addo led to changes, and Mensah unexpectedly started in Ghana’s second game against South Korea.
In an interview with Flashscore, Mensah admitted he felt very nervous before kick-off, given how important the game was for him. But then, Ayew approached him during warm-ups, encouraging him with a motivational speech. “It was like head to head; his head was right in front of my forehead,” Mensah recalled. Ayew told him, “This is your moment… everyone is watching. Don’t make mistakes—don’t let them down.”
These words helped Mensah relax and focus, allowing him to perform well on the field. His key pass set up Mohammed Kudus’ winning goal, leading Ghana to a thrilling 3-2 victory over South Korea.
Mensah, who has been part of the national team since November 2019, showed his potential on one of the world’s biggest stages, thanks in part to Ayew’s support.
