(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Ghana Secure Late Victory Over Panama in FIFA World Cup Opener
Ghana earned a dramatic 1-0 win over Panama in their opening Group L match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Toronto Stadium on Wednesday.
Caleb Yirenkyi scored the decisive goal deep into stoppage time, giving the Black Stars all three points after a closely contested encounter in front of nearly 43,000 spectators.
Panama started brightly and created an early opportunity in the second minute, but Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi made an important save to keep the score level.
The first half offered limited chances for both sides, with Ghana struggling to test the Panama defense and Panama unable to convert their early momentum into a breakthrough.
Playing under rainy conditions, the match became more open after halftime. Panama came close in the 60th minute when Cristian Martinez fired a powerful effort that found the side netting, drawing a strong reaction from the crowd.
As the contest appeared to be heading toward a goalless draw, Ghana found a late winner. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Yirenkyi reacted quickest inside the penalty area to score and spark celebrations among Ghanaian supporters.
The victory marks a positive start to Ghana’s World Cup campaign under head coach Carlos Queiroz, who took charge of the team shortly before the tournament. The experienced manager also reached a notable milestone by becoming only the second coach to appear in five consecutive FIFA World Cups.
Despite challenging weather conditions, both teams showed determination throughout the match, with Ghana ultimately making the most of their late opportunity.
The result places Ghana in a strong position in Group L as they look ahead to their remaining fixtures in the tournament.
