West African giants, Ghana, launched their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in dramatic fashion, scoring deep into stoppage time to secure a crucial 1-0 victory over Panama in a tense Group L encounter played in rainy Toronto on Thursday morning. Caleb Yirenkyi emerged as the hero for the Black Stars, finishing off a swift counterattack in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time to hand Ghana all three points in their opening match of the tournament. The late strike sparked jubilant celebrations among Ghanaian players and supporters, while Panama were left heartbroken after appearing destined to earn a point from a tightly contested affair. Moments after the goal, tempers flared as players from both sides became involved in a brief melee before the referee restored order and blew the final whistle. The decisive move began deep inside Ghana's own half. Brandon Thomas-Asante surged down the left flank before driving into the penalty area and delivering a perfectly weighted pass into the centre. Yirenkyi arrived at the right moment to steer the ball into the net and send the Ghanaian faithful into raptures. The dramatic finish contrasted sharply with a subdued first half that produced few clear-cut opportunities. Panama looked the more threatening side before the break, controlling possession and forcing Ghana onto the defensive for long periods. However, the Black Stars returned from halftime with renewed energy and gradually took command of proceedings. While the tempo increased significantly after the interval, genuine scoring chances remained scarce until Yirenkyi'sdecisive intervention in added time. The match had been billed as a pivotal contest between two sides expected to battle for a place behind group favouritesEngland and Croatia. Earlier on Wednesday, England strengthened their credentials with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia. Ghana entered the tournament without influential midfielder Thomas Partey, who was unable to travel to Canada after being denied a visa due to pending sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom. Partey has denied all allegations and is expected to be available for Ghana's remaining two group-stage matches, both of which will be played in the United States. The victory gives Ghana an early advantage in the race for qualification from Group L. The Black Stars are appearing at their fifth World Cup in the last six editions, with their best-ever performance coming in 2010 when they reached the quarter-finals. For Panama, meanwhile, the defeat was a painful setback in only their second World Cup appearance. The Central Americans lost all three of their group-stage matches at their tournament debut in 2018 and now face an uphill task to keep their hopes alive. Both teams return to action on Tuesday. Ghana face a stern test against England in Foxborough, Massachusetts, while Panama will take on Croatia in Toronto.
