Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz praised his players’ resilience and tactical discipline after they secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A stoppage-time strike from Caleb Yirenkyi at Toronto Stadium earned the Black Stars all three points in Group L, despite Panama dominating large portions of the contest and appearing the more comfortable side for much of the match.
Ghana failed to register a single shot in the first half and managed just 35 percent possession before the break. Panama, meanwhile, controlled 65 percent of the ball and created the better scoring opportunities.
The victory marked a winning start for Queiroz at the World Cup with Ghana, but the Portuguese coach acknowledged that his side had to endure long spells without possession before successfully executing their game plan.
“We battled like warriors,” Queiroz told ITV after the match.
“We won the game with our brains. First, we had to suffer against a great team. They know how to play. We knew they would control the game. But step by step, our strategy was to let them come. This is the way to win.”
The result leaves Ghana second in Group L behind England, who defeated Croatia 4-2 in the group’s other fixture. The Black Stars will face the Three Lions on 23 June, while Panama will seek to bounce back against Croatia.
