Colombia coach's mother brings luck, Ghana is under pressure

Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo received advice from his mother before the match against Ghana, and this time, the 89-year-old woman became the one who brought luck to the team. The 1-0 victory helps Colombia officially enter the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, where they will meet Switzerland.

At the press conference, Lorenzo was asked if his mother had any advice for him, as she had done previously in this tournament. The Argentine coach said his mother advised him not to argue with reporters. "A mother's advice is always the same. Mothers never get tired of repeating the same things over and over again," he shared.

"This is like between us and the players. They are used to me. When they see the team conceding a goal, they often say: 'If the coach sees this...' We always work on small details. My mother is the same. She did not give any specific instructions for this match, but she always watched and supported us with love," Lorenzo added.

On the Ghana side, disappointment was clearly visible on coach Carlos Queiroz's face. He said that his young team could not withstand the pressure of a knockout match. "I felt early on that some of the Ghana players became nervous. They could not keep their composure as the pressure mounted. The goal came too early. This is a very young squad. We need more experience. Some players need time to develop the maturity that this level requires. At this level, you cannot rely only on the enthusiasm of the young players," he emphasized.

---

Related Articles

1. Mundial 2026
2. Mundial 2026