West African giants, Ghana, launched their FIFA World Cup 2026 marketing campaign in dramatic trend, scoring deep into stoppage time to safe a vital 1-0 victory over Panama in a tense Group L encounter performed in wet Toronto on Thursday morning.
Caleb Yirenkyi emerged because the hero for the Black Stars, ending off a swift counterattack within the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time handy Ghana all three factors of their opening match of the event.
The late strike sparked jubilant celebrations amongst Ghanaian gamers and supporters, whereas Panama have been left heartbroken after showing destined to earn some extent from a tightly contested affair.
The decisive transfer that led to the aim started deep inside Ghana's personal half. Brandon Thomas-Asante surged down the left flank earlier than driving into the penalty space and delivering a superbly weighted move into the centre.
Yirenkyi arrived on the proper second to steer the ball into the online and ship the Ghanaian devoted into raptures.
The dramatic end contrasted sharply with a subdued first half that produced few clear-cut alternatives.
Panama seemed the extra threatening facet earlier than the break, controlling possession and forcing Ghana onto the defensive for lengthy durations. Nevertheless, the Black Stars returned from halftime with renewed power and progressively took command of proceedings.
Whereas the tempo elevated considerably after the interval, real scoring probabilities remained scarce till Yirenkyi's decisive intervention in added time.
The match had been billed as a pivotal contest between two sides anticipated to battle for a spot behind group favourites England and Croatia.
Earlier on Wednesday, England strengthened their credentials with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia.
Ghana entered the event with out influential midfielder Thomas Partey, who was unable to journey to Canada after being denied a visa on account of pending sexual assault prices in the UK. Partey has denied all allegations and is anticipated to be accessible for Ghana's remaining two group-stage matches, each of which can be performed in america.
The victory offers Ghana an early benefit within the race for qualification from Group L. The Black Stars are showing at their fifth World Cup within the final six editions, with their best-ever efficiency coming in 2010 after they reached the quarter-finals.
