World Cup 2026: Herbert Mensah hails Ghana’s tactical discipline after England draw

World Cup 2026: Herbert Mensah hails Ghana’s tactical discipline after England draw

President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, has praised Ghana’s tactical discipline following the Black Stars’ goalless draw against England at the FIFA World Cup, describing the team’s defensive organisation as the key factor behind the result.

Speaking after the match, Herbert Mensah said Ghana’s performance demonstrated the importance of structure, concentration and tactical execution against stronger opponents.

Viewing the game from the perspective of a sports administrator, Herbert argued that football, like all elite sports, requires a long-term strategic approach that balances talent with organisation.

“England is stronger than Ghana, but tournaments are not always won by the strongest team. They are won by teams that can endure and execute their plans effectively,” he said.

Herbert highlighted the impact of Ghana’s defensive setup, commonly referred to as a “low block”, which involved the team maintaining a compact shape and limiting England’s space in attacking areas. According to him, Ghana’s midfield and defensive lines worked effectively together to frustrate England’s attack throughout the match.

He also commended several younger players for their composure in dealing with England’s attacking threats and set-piece situations.

Looking ahead, Herbert warned that Ghana’s next group match against Croatia would present a different challenge. He described Croatia as one of the most technically accomplished teams in international football and cautioned that Ghana would need to maintain the same level of discipline and tactical organisation to secure a positive result.

“Croatia are a very efficient and technically gifted side. Ghana will have to remain disciplined and organised throughout the match,” he said.

The result leaves Ghana still in contention for a place in the knockout stages, with the Black Stars needing another strong performance against Croatia to strengthen their qualification hopes. England leads Group L with 4 points, the same as Ghana but with superior goals, followed by Croatia (3 points) and Panama, with zero points, having lost both games against Ghana and Croatia.

Ghana will take on Croatia while England play Panama on Saturday, in the final group games.

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