Ghana’s Black Stars got their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign up and running on Wednesday, edging past World Cup debutants Panama 1-0 in a dramatic Group L encounter at BMO Field, Toronto.
Youngster Caleb Yirenkyi grabbed a dramatic late winner to put the West African side firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stages.
It was far from straightforward. Panama announced their intentions inside two minutes, with Cecilio Waterman forcing Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi into a diving save to his right from a 15-yard volley. Panama’s best chance of the first half came when winger Cristian Martinez burst through the Ghanaian defence at pace. Jerome Opoku tracked back and caught him with a nudge inside the box, but the referee waved away Panama’s penalty appeals, infuriating the Central Americans and stirring them into greater urgency.
Ati Zigi was called upon again in the 38th minute, leaping to punch clear a dangerous cross, though the loose ball fell to Panama’s Jiovany Ramos, who could only slice his effort wide from 14 yards. The Ghana goalkeeper had gone down injured more than once by this stage, and with a wounded last line of defence between the posts, Ghana were forced to hold on for dear life until half-time against a relentless Panama side.
Ati Zigi did not emerge for the second half, replaced by Benjamin Asare after picking up a knock from a couple of hard collisions. Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz said the goalkeeper would be assessed further the following day. Remarkably, Ghana had not managed a single shot in the entire first half, the first team at this World Cup to suffer that fate.
The change in goalkeeper did not immediately settle Ghana’s nerves. Asare proved crucial in his half-hour debut on the global stage, producing three important saves to deny Panama a lead they threatened to find.
Queiroz turned to his bench to change the game’s complexion. Abdul Fatawu and Brandon Thomas-Asante were introduced for Ernest Nuamah and Kamaldeen Sulemana in the 57th minute, injecting fresh pace into the Ghanaian attack and gradually shifting momentum. Jonas Adjetey finally ended Ghana’s shooting drought with a header in the 48th minute, well held by Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
Chances remained scarce as the match wore on. In the 65th minute, Thomas-Asante broke through Panama’s back line and squared the ball along the six-yard box towards Jordan Ayew, only for Jiovany Ramos to make a vital recovery tackle and deny the simple tap-in.
Panama came agonisingly close to a famous result deep into stoppage time. A last-gasp Panama free-kick was hurled into the box, with goalkeeper Mosquera himself charging forward to win the first header, the ball dropping for Diaz to nod goalwards — only for Asare to react sharply and gather the ball before bodies piled in around him.
Moments later, the breakthrough finally arrived. Caleb Yirenkyi scored in the 95th minute to hand Ghana a dramatic victory, with Brandon Thomas-Asante providing the decisive assist after a brilliant run down the left flank. Antoine Semenyo was at the heart of the move, releasing Thomas-Asante down the left; the Coventry City man beat his marker to the ball and slid a low cross across the face of goal, where Yirenkyi stretched out a foot to stab it over the line, sending Toronto into delirium and leaving Panama with pure heartbreak.
Even after the goal, the closing moments remained chaotic, with Panama throwing everyone — including goalkeeper Mosquera — forward in search of an immediate response, before Asare safely gathered the final attack as the match ended amid brief on-pitch confrontations and jubilant Ghana celebrations.
Antoine Semenyo, who had started the move for Ghana’s first-half header, praised Panama’s opening 45 minutes. “Panama, they had a great first half. They kept the ball really well and we struggled with the press,” he said. “But slowly into the second half we had that energy to go up and press and cause problems, and that led to the winner.”
Ghana were without midfielder Thomas Partey for the match, after he was denied a visa to enter Canada due to pending sexual assault charges against him in the United Kingdom.
It is was their first opening-match win at a World Cup since 2010, a result that will lift spirits heading into the tougher tests still to come in Group L.
The win puts Ghana level on points with England at the top of Group L, though the Three Lions lead on goal difference following their 4-2 win over Croatia.
