Ghana Leave It Late to Defeat Panama
Ghana kept Africa’s impressive start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Caleb Yirenkyi.
After a tense encounter in which both sides struggled to find the breakthrough, the Black Stars struck in the 95th minute. Brendan Thomas Asante delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the box, allowing Yirenkyi to calmly slot the ball into an empty net and spark wild celebrations among the Ghanaian players and supporters.
The dramatic victory earned Ghana all three points in their opening Group L fixture and made them the second African nation to record a win at the tournament, following Côte d’Ivoire’s 1-0 triumph over Ecuador.
The result also sets up a mouthwatering clash against England, who began their campaign with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia. The showdown between Ghana and England is expected to play a crucial role in determining the group leaders and could have a major bearing on qualification for the knockout stage.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz will be encouraged by his side’s resilience and determination after they refused to give up despite Panama’s stubborn resistance throughout the contest. Ghana’s disciplined defensive display and never-say-die attitude ultimately paid off with the late winner.
With confidence soaring after the dramatic victory, the Black Stars will now turn their attention to the much-anticipated encounter with England, hoping to build on their winning start and move a step closer to securing a place in the Round of 32.
