▲ Caleb Irenki of Ghana celebrates.
African powerhouse Ghana (FIFA ranking 73rd), led by head coach Carlos Queiroz, secured 3 points by defeating Central American dark horse Panama (34th) thanks to a stoppage-time winning goal by Caleb Irenki.
Ghana won 1-0 against Panama in their first Group L match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at Toronto Stadium in Ontario, Canada, on June 18 (KST).
With one win, 3 points, and a goal difference of 1, Ghana sits in second place in the group, trailing England (1 win, 3 points, goal difference of 2), which defeated Croatia 4-2 earlier today.
Panama is in third place, and Croatia is in fourth.
The two teams engaged in a fierce battle and remained deadlocked throughout the 90 minutes of regulation, but Ghana seized its final scoring opportunity to claim a thrilling victory.
With the score tied at 0-0 in stoppage time, substitute Solomon Thomas-Asante received a pass in the center, broke through a tackle from a defender, and surged down the left flank before delivering a low cross into the penalty box.
Irenki then tapped the ball into the net with an inside-foot strike, scoring a precious goal.
Ghana subsequently withstood a late offensive surge from Panama.
Just before the final whistle, Panama earned a free kick on the right flank, prompting goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera to join the attack.
Mosquera headed the cross into the center of the penalty box, where Ismael Diaz attempted a header, but the ball went straight to the Ghanaian goalkeeper, failing to find the net.
As defeat became imminent, the Panamanian players grew agitated, leading to a tense confrontation between the two sides.
The match ended shortly after, leaving the Ghanaian players celebrating.
Ghana had faced concerns ahead of the match as key midfielder Thomas Partey was unable to join the squad after being denied an entry visa by Canadian authorities due to an upcoming trial involving charges including rape. However, the team boosted its chances of advancing to the Round of 32 with this thrilling win.
Meanwhile, both teams, which had viewed each other as their best chance for a win in the group stage, played cautiously throughout the match.
Panama primarily looked to create scoring chances with long balls aimed at the space behind Ghana's defense, while Ghana countered with a defensive, counter-attacking strategy.
Panama dominated possession in the first half with 56% compared to Ghana's 37%, but their movement noticeably slowed in the second half, likely due to the energy expended in the first half.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.