Accra: Black Stars defender, Gideon Mensah, has expressed his readiness to take on a leadership role within the team as Ghana gears up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The left-back, who is preparing for his second appearance at the World Cup, reflected on his extensive journey with the national team over the past eight years and shared his enthusiasm for mentoring the younger players in the squad.
According to Ghana Web, Mensah conveyed his sense of accomplishment and responsibility, stating, "Going to my second World Cup and being with the national team for eight years feels so good." He added, "I feel like an experienced player now and I also feel I have responsibility for the new boys that are coming in. That gives me a lot of excitement to be here."
Mensah acknowledged that his latest call-up to the national team came with mixed emotions due to the introduction of a new coaching staff after the qualifiers were completed under a different manager. "I think it was 50-50. I was expecting it and at the same time I was a bit surprised because there is a new coach," he stated. Nevertheless, Mensah's dedication to his club performances left him confident about his chances. "I kept working at my club, training and playing every week, hoping the call-up would come. I always believed my performances would speak for me."
Looking forward to the World Cup, Mensah emphasized the team's aspiration to surpass their previous performance, where they did not advance beyond the group stage. "We are hoping to do better than our last World Cup, which is to get out of the group stage and then take it from there," he explained. "You can aim to win the World Cup, but you need to start from somewhere. The focus now is getting out of the group stage first."