Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah believes the Black Stars are strong enough to compete against any side in the world.

Ghana lost 1-0 on Saturday to the Netherlands in a game the west Africans laboured in the first half but came up strongly in the second with the introduction of key players.

“We have a very strong team that can compete with any other team in this world,” Mensah told Football411. “We knew most of their players are playing in the good leagues around the world, we can also say the same thing about some of our players.”

He added: “The Black Stars team is made up of young and experienced players and that has been our hallmark. In football you don’t have to respect your opponent a lot, because if you do so it will be to your disadvantage.”

Ghana will play South Korea in Miami before heading to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.