WE CAN BEAT EVERY TEAM IN OUR GROUP: GHANA COACH ADDO

Ghana coach Otto Addo has his sights set on the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in 12 years.

The Black Stars reached the quarter-finals in 2010 in a best ever World Cup showing and Otto sees no reason why that cannot be repeated or even bettered. No African side has ever made the last four.

“We hope to make it to the last 16. We have a good squad and can beat anyone in our group,” Addo told dpa ahead of Thursday’s opening match against Portugal in Doha.

“All players are in 100% condition. There are no injuries. We can play tomorrow,” he said exuding in confidence.

Uruguay - who controversially beat Ghana in that 2010 last-eight clash and South Korea are their other group opponents. Ghana beat Switzerland 2-0 in a World Cup warm-up last week.

The Ghanaians, who failed to qualify for Russia 2018, will be relying on a number of players born outside of Ghana in Qatar such as Bilbao-born Iñaki Williams.

Hamburg-born Addo said: “We have many new people, also because they have changed nationalities. So it is important that we grow together as a team and that the players get to know my ideas.”

(AFP) Ghana’s head coach Otto Addo attends a training session at Aspire training zone in Doha on Wednesday, on the eve of their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match against Portugal.

(AFP) Ghana’s defender Alexander Djiku (R front) takes part in a training session at Aspire training zone in Doha on Wednesday on the eve of their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match against Portugal.