Ghana Secures Last-Minute Victory Over Panama in World Cup Opener

In a thrilling finish, Ghana edged past Panama with a 1-0 victory in their Group L opener at the 2026 World Cup in Toronto, thanks to a last-minute goal from Caleb Yirenkyi. The match took place early Thursday morning and highlighted several issues within the Black Stars’ performance.

This narrow win significantly boosts Ghana’s prospects as they prepare for upcoming matches against England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27. With three points secured, the Black Stars can aim for qualification as one of the best third-placed teams, a goal that would have been difficult had they settled for a draw.

The path to victory was anything but smooth. Ghana’s team, managed by Carlos Queiroz, endured a rollercoaster of emotions before Yirenkyi scored following a well-placed cross from substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante deep into stoppage time.

Lawrence Ati-Zigi — The Unlikely Hero

© Iconsport / Chris Young / The Canadian Press via ZUMA Press.

The first half was challenging for Ghana fans as Panama dominated the play. If not for goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi’s exceptional saves—most notably denying Celilio Waterman early on—the Central Americans could have easily taken the lead.

Ghana struggled with possession, managing only about 35 percent in the first half. Jerome Opoku narrowly avoided conceding a penalty after a physical challenge on Cristian Martinez inside the box. Ati-Zigi continued to shine, rushing out to thwart Amir Murillo before sustaining a hamstring injury in an aerial clash with Carlos Harvey. He was replaced by Benjamin Asare at halftime, leaving Ghana relieved to head into the break level.

A Toothless Attack Lacks Inspiration

The struggles extended beyond goalkeeping; Ghana’s attacking trio of Ernest Nuamah, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Semenyo failed to convert their potential into effective play. They were often bogged down by defensive responsibilities rather than being able to threaten Panama’s goal.

The absence of key players Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey was felt acutely. Kudus was ruled out of the tournament entirely, while Partey could not enter Canada due to ongoing legal issues. Their presence could have provided much-needed creativity and connection in Ghana’s attack. By the 60th minute, Ghana had generated only 0.10 expected goals—a stark indicator of their offensive shortcomings.

© Iconsport / Zou Zheng / Xinhua.

Ghana’s Resilience Shines Through

A turning point occurred when Queiroz substituted Sulemana and Nuamah for Thomas-Asante and Issahaku Abdul Fatawu. Thomas-Asante quickly made his mark, yet Ghana continued to miss opportunities. A near miss saw Ayew narrowly beaten to a cross by a defender when it seemed he would score; central defender Jonas Adjetey also failed to convert from an excellent position following an Ayew free-kick.

As time dwindled, it appeared that both teams would share the spoils—potentially diminishing Ghana’s hopes of progressing in the tournament. However, resilience paid off when Semenyo set up Thomas-Asante behind Panama’s defense; his precise cross found Yirenkyi for the decisive finish that secured three invaluable points for the Black Stars.

With Partey expected to return for their next match against England, Queiroz faces critical decisions regarding his attacking lineup after witnessing the impact from his substitutes.