Alexander Djiku: Ghana Defender Picks the World Cup as the Greatest Football Competition

• Fenerbahce defender, Alexander Djiku, has opened up on playing the 'greatest competition' in the World Cup
• The Black Stars centre-back is eyeing a return to the FIFA World Cup with Ghana in the US, Mexico and Canada
• Ghana won their last two matches in the qualifiers against Mali and the Central Africa Republic to move second

Ghana defender, Alexander Djiku is eager to return to the FIFA World Cup with the Black Stars after making his debut at the 2022 edition in Qatar.

The French-born Ghanaian has won the hearts of fans of the Black Stars with his swashbuckling displays in the national team colours.

Despite taking years to decide on representing Ghana at the international level, Djiku has become a stalwart in the Black Stars.

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The 29-year-old impressed as the four-time African champions won back-to-back games in the window to boost their World Cup qualification hopes.

According to Djiku, no football competition comes close to the World Cup hence the team's ambition to qualify for the tournament.

“There's nothing better; it’s just the greatest competition ever,” he told FIFA. “I don't like talking about the past. Now we have to look to the future and get through our matches in this World Cup qualifying campaign.”

The four-time African champions have been to the World Cup four times and a trip to North America will make it five for the West African football powerhouse.

However, a defeat to Comoros at the beginning of the qualifiers and a poor Africa Cup of Nations has seen Ghana make changes in the technical department with Otto Addo returning as head coach, as reported by Reuters.

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“He knows the players really well,” added Djiku. "He’s the one who got us to Qatar. He played for Ghana, so he knows the ins and outs of the national team. He’s a great leader, first and foremost. A lot of young guys have been brought into the squad, so we need a coach who excels at man-management, and Addo is unmatched in that department.”

Ayew powers Ghana to victory against CAR

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Jordan Ayew scored a hat-trick to boost Ghana's 2026 World Cup qualification hopes as the team recovered from 2-1 to beat the Central African Republic 4-3 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Louis Mafouta's first-half brace handed the Black Stars a scare before the break but a strong display from Ghana in the second-half earned them a deserved victory.

In a quick start to the game, the Black Stars made their early pressure count after Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu Issahku drew a foul in the box and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty.