Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has praised the Black Stars for their determination and resilience following their dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars left it late to secure all three points, with midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scoring the decisive goal deep into stoppage time to hand Ghana a dream start to their campaign.
Ghana were made to work hard by a disciplined and determined Panama side in Toronto, with both teams struggling to break the deadlock for much of the encounter.
Just when the game appeared destined to end in a goalless draw, substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante sparked a swift counterattack and delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the penalty area.
Yirenkyi timed his run to perfection before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper in the 95th minute, sending Ghanaian supporters into wild celebrations.
Speaking after the match, Queiroz commended his players for their fighting spirit and commitment throughout the contest.
“It means three points. That’s it. We’ve won the first half, but now we still have to play the second and third halves of this important tournament. But I’m so happy for the boys. So happy,” he said.
The former Real Madrid manager stressed that while the victory was important, Ghana’s focus must quickly shift to the challenges ahead as the tournament progresses.
The win places the Black Stars in a strong position in Group L and provides a significant confidence boost ahead of their next fixture against England.
With England also securing victory over Croatia, Ghana’s upcoming clash against the Three Lions is expected to play a crucial role in determining the group’s standings.
For now, however, the Black Stars can celebrate a hard-fought victory that showcased their character, patience and ability to deliver under pressure on football’s biggest stage.
