Philip Boakye, head coach of Ghana’s Futsal National Team, has embraced the underdog label ahead of their first group game against Zambia but remains confident of causing an upset in the competition.

Scheduled to kick off at 17:00 GMT in Rabat, Ghana will face Zambia in their opening group fixture at the Salle Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Thursday.

This marks the West African nation's second appearance in the fast-paced and technically demanding indoor football competition, with their previous participation dating back to 1996.

Acknowledging the formidable challenge posed by Zambia, Boakye emphasized his team's determination to qualify for the World Cup, despite being considered underdogs.

"Zambia has a very good team, and they qualified from the playoffs. We’re here to qualify for the World Cup, and that’s our ambition," stated Boakye during the pre-match press engagement.

Boakye also lauded the top-notch facilities at the tournament's venues, including the Salle Prince Moulay Abdellah and the Salle IBN Yassine, equipped with state-of-the-art amenities for the event.

"The surface here is one of the best I have seen. The structures are one of the best, and I hope other countries will learn from Morocco," he remarked, highlighting the standards set by the host nation.

Furthermore, Boakye expressed optimism about Ghana's progress in Futsal, noting the country's advancements in infrastructure, particularly with the construction of a new stadium for the 13th African Games.

"In Ghana, we are now improving with the new stadium that was built for the 13th African Games.

There is a standard Futsal field in that stadium," he concluded, signaling Ghana's commitment to fostering the growth of Futsal domestically.

With a blend of determination and optimism, Ghana's Futsal team is poised to make its mark in the 7th edition of the tournament, aiming to defy the odds and secure a place on the global stage.