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ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Ghana President John Dramani Mahama says the country expects its soccer players to give everything and "die a little" for the team at the World Cup.
Mahama asked for the commitment at a farewell dinner for the squad on Thursday.
Ghana, which reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2010, plays the United States, Germany and Portugal in Group G in Brazil.
Mahama says "we expect you to die a little for your country. ... We respect our opponents but we don't fear them."
The team leaves Ghana on Saturday to play warm-up matches in Europe and the U.S.
Ghana's first match in Brazil is against the Americans on June 16 in Natal.
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