The Biggest Moment Is Now – Ati-Zigi

Black Stars goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi says Ghana’s players are fully focused on the task ahead and determined to make the most of their opportunity at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that “the biggest moment is now” as the team prepares for its opening match against Panama.

The St. Gallen goalkeeper made the remarks from the team’s training base in Virginia, United States, where Ghana has been fine-tuning preparations ahead of Tuesday’s Group D opener.

Ati-Zigi, who is representing Ghana at his second consecutive World Cup, said the squad has trained well and is ready for the challenge ahead.

“It’s been a great experience. You can see all the guys are very ready and we’ve trained very well. We’ve given our best and we’re looking forward to this moment,” he said.

The goalkeeper highlighted unity and teamwork as the team’s greatest strengths, saying the players have built a strong bond ahead of the tournament.

“The strength is fighting for each other and being there as a team. Playing as a team and not just as individuals. You can see everyone is fighting for each other. We support each other and we help each other by encouraging the young ones to keep going and to always give their best,” he said.

Ati-Zigi said the squad is determined to leave behind disappointments from previous tournaments and focus entirely on the opportunities presented by the World Cup.

“These are moments that happen in football where you have bad moments and sometimes you don’t qualify. For us, the biggest moment is now,” he said.

Ghana heads into the tournament under the guidance of experienced Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz. According to Ati-Zigi, the players are benefiting from the coach’s knowledge and experience.

“He’s a very experienced coach. He has a lot of information. We just have to take the good information he gives us and try to make use of it,” he said.

The goalkeeper also praised the atmosphere within the camp, describing it as positive and united.

“I think it’s really a good group. We’re all together. We fight for each other. You can see there’s really positive vibes each and every time. This is what we like and this is what we want to keep up,”he added.

As one of the senior members of the squad, Ati-Zigi acknowledged the significance of playing on football’s biggest stage.

“As a kid, everyone dreams of playing on this big platform. For me, it’s actually a big dream because you get to face big players. You get the atmosphere, a lot of people in the stadium, the support and the love,” he said.

Despite the pressure that comes with a World Cup campaign, the goalkeeper said nerves are not an issue within the camp.

“I feel there’s good team spirit. This shows that everyone is ready and everyone is looking forward to it,” he said.

Ghana has been drawn in a competitive group but Ati-Zigi said the team is focused on taking each match as it comes rather than looking too far ahead.

“We’re just going to take it game by game. Hopefully, we analyse it and see how it goes. We’re just going to give our all,” he said.

He also appealed to Ghanaians to continue supporting the team throughout the tournament.

“We’re asking for their support and their prayers, like always. They should also stay positive. Hopefully, we’re going to make them proud.”

The Black Stars will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on Tuesday as they seek a strong start in their quest to progress beyond the group stage.