Declan Rice believes he will get an assist “every time” he takes a corner for England, and has urged fans to be “excited” for what is to come at the World Cup. But as the Three Lions prepare to face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday evening, the Arsenal midfielder’s confidence has been met with a playful challenge from the other side: “Our jollof rice is better than your Declan Rice.”
Will Yakah, 30, co-owner of RedRed, the only Ghanaian restaurant in Boston, issued the warning ahead of the group-stage match at Foxborough. “England may have Declan Rice but we’ve got jollof rice,” he said. Yakah, a Manchester United fanatic who moved to the US from Accra 12 years ago, invited the tens of thousands of England supporters to his restaurant in Nubian Square, Roxbury, for a beer and traditional dishes like jollof rice, waakye, kelewele and puff puff. “When the World Cup draw was made, we were so excited,” he said. “You can only dream of drawing England, with all their Premier League stars, in the World Cup – not only in the US but here in Boston.”
“Declan Rice says he expects an assist from every corner, while a Ghanaian restaurant owner jokes that jollof rice outranks the England star.”
England opened their tournament with a 4-2 win over Croatia, with Harry Kane scoring twice – the first from a penalty won after Noni Madueke was fouled following a Rice cross, the second from a Rice corner. Rice, who became Arsenal’s designated set-piece taker in January 2024 after a training camp in Dubai, helped the Gunners score a record 19 corners last season as they won the Premier League. “I feel like now every time I put down a ball for a set-piece … I’m going to get an assist or make something happen,” Rice said at England’s base in Kansas City. He credited set-piece coach Nico Jover and manager Mikel Arteta for seeing something in him that others didn’t.
But Yakah, whose restaurant has been open for three years, pointed to Ghana’s record: “Ghana has never lost the second group match of any World Cup tournament we have ever played in! Watch out England – we’re going to win.” Both sides won their opening matches, meaning the winner on Tuesday will secure a place in the knockout stages. Yakah noted the Premier League links in Ghana’s squad – Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham) and Andre Ayew (formerly Nottingham Forest and West Ham) – as well as manager Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant at Manchester United.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has emphasised replicating Premier League style, and Rice said set-piece work has been ongoing since Tuchel took over in January 2025. “This has been going on in the lead-up for the past year,” Rice said. “The lads know where I’m going to deliver the ball.” Meanwhile, Yakah has a stand inside the Fifa Fanfest in central Boston – but can only serve food, not drinks, because Fifa controls the alcohol sales. A beer there costs £10; at RedRed, it’s £7, and a ten-minute journey away. “Everyone’s enjoying set-pieces now, aren’t they?” Rice said. England fans will hope that enjoyment continues – and that jollof rice doesn’t come out on top.