Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey has admitted he would not be surprised if the Black Stars suffer defeat against England in their crucial Group L clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The highly anticipated encounter will take place on June 23 at Gillette Stadium, with both nations aiming to take a significant step towards qualification for the knockout stage.
Ghana head into the fixture on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in their tournament opener at BMO Field in Toronto. England also began their World Cup campaign with a victory, setting up a potentially decisive showdown between the two teams.
Despite Ghana’s positive start, Lamptey believes England possess superior quality across all areas of the pitch and should be considered favourites heading into the contest.
Lamptey Backs England as Favourites
Speaking to Asempa FM, the former Anderlecht star acknowledged his support for Ghana but admitted that England’s overall strength makes them the stronger side on paper.
“I will be surprised should Black Stars win against England. They are better than us in terms of everything,” Lamptey said.
“I’m a Ghanaian, and if we win, I will celebrate, but on the face of it, I’ll not be surprised if we lose to England,” he added.
His comments reflect the challenge facing the Black Stars against a Three Lions squad packed with Premier League and European football stars.
Black Stars Seeking Another Famous Result
While England may enter the game as favourites, Ghana have a proud history of producing memorable performances against top football nations on the international stage.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz will be hoping his players can build on the confidence gained from their opening victory over Panama and deliver another disciplined performance against one of the tournament favourites.
The Black Stars showed resilience and determination to secure all three points in Toronto and will need a similar display if they are to trouble England.
Knockout Stage Ambitions
A positive result against England would significantly boost Ghana’s chances of advancing from Group L before their final group-stage encounter against Croatia.
The four-time African champions are aiming to reach the knockout rounds for the first time since their historic quarter-final run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
With qualification still wide open, Ghana know every point could prove crucial in the race to progress.
The clash against England promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the group stage, with supporters around the world eagerly awaiting another chapter in Ghana’s World Cup journey.
