Ghana president expects players to 'die a little'

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Ghana President John Dramani Mahama says the country expects its footballers 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 a tough Group G in Brazil.

Mahama said, "we expect you to die a little for your country. ... We respect our opponents but we don't fear them."

The squad leaves Ghana on Saturday to play warmup matches in Europe and the U.S.

Its first opponent in Brazil is the U.S. on June 16 in Natal.