Ghana Urges Aggressive Referee Approach

Ghana's Black Stars are gearing up to face Croatia on Saturday, with forward Antoine Semenyo urging his teammates to be more aggressive in their interactions with referees. This comes after recent controversies surrounding VAR decisions, including a disputed penalty incident in their match against England.

What happened?

Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz expressed frustration with the VAR system, stating it "went for a coffee break" during the England match.

Why it matters for Ghana

The Black Stars' next match against Croatia could be decisive in their World Cup campaign, and Semenyo believes that being more vocal with referees could make a difference. As players, we need to gang around the referee and complain, Semenyo said. I think as a team we need to be more aggressive around the officials, whether it's staying down longer as a player or the coaches on the sideline pestering the fourth official.

What comes next?

Ghana will face Croatia on Saturday, June 27, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with the match kicking off at 5 p.m. ET. The Black Stars are looking to bounce back from their recent losses, with their last result being a 2-1 defeat to Germany on March 30, 2026. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with a record of 1W-0D-4L in their last five matches.

The team's ability to navigate these challenges will be key to their success in the World Cup. And with the right approach, they may be able to turn their fortunes around. But for now, the focus is on the upcoming match against Croatia. So, the Black Stars will need to be at the top of their game if they want to get a positive result. Their fans will be watching anxiously, hoping for a win that could boost their chances of advancing in the tournament.