World Cup 2026: Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz happy with players display after hard-fought Panama win

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has expressed his satisfaction with his players after they opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a dramatic win over Panama.

The Black Stars had to wait until the closing stages of the match before securing all three points, with substitute Caleb Yirenkyi emerging as the match-winner in stoppage time.

Played in Toronto on Wednesday night, the encounter proved far from straightforward as Panama matched Ghana throughout much of the contest. However, the four-time African champions remained patient and determined before eventually finding the breakthrough.

The winning move started with Brandon Thomas-Asante, whose quick burst forward launched a counterattack. The forward then picked out Yirenkyi inside the penalty area, and the midfielder kept his composure to fire home and spark jubilant celebrations among the Ghanaian supporters.

Despite the importance of the victory, Queiroz insisted that the team’s focus remains firmly on the challenges ahead.

“It means three points. That’s it. We’ve won the first part, but there are still two more important games to play in this tournament,” the Ghana coach said after the final whistle.

He added: “I’m very happy for the boys. They worked hard and deserved this moment.”

The result gives Ghana a strong start in Group L and keeps them on course ahead of a crucial meeting with England, who also began their World Cup journey with a win against Croatia.