BRESAKING: Late Caleb Yirenkyi Goal Wins Chaotic Match For Ghana Vs Panama At 2026 FIFA World Cup
Caleb Yirenkyi scored a dramatic 94th-minute winner as Ghana’s Black Stars overcame pre-match disruptions and torrential downpours to defeat Panama 1-0 in their FIFA World Cup Group L opener at the Toronto Stadium.
The midfielder capitalised on a lapse in the Panamanian defence deep into stoppage time to secure all three points for Carlos Queiroz’s men.
The result sends Ghana second in Group L behind England, who dispatched Croatia 4-2 in Dallas earlier in the day.
The build-up to the historic first senior international meeting between the two nations was fraught with off-pitch tension. The Black Stars’ camp was rocked ahead of kickoff following Thomas Partey, the team’s deputy captain, being denied entry into Canada.
The midfielder’s urgent appeal for emergency legal relief was dismissed by a Federal Court judge on Tuesday due to his ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Despite the setback and the biting winds and rain sweeping across Toronto, thousands of vibrant supporters from both sides created a carnival atmosphere inside the stadium, which is commercially known as BMO Field.
The first half yielded few clear-cut opportunities as both teams struggled for fluency on the slick surface. Ghana’s eagerness to disrupt Panama’s build-up play manifested in an early yellow card for Yirenkyi in the 15th minute.
At the interval, Queiroz adjusted his side, replacing goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi with Benjamin Asare. As Panama began targeting Ghana’s flanks through combinations involving Michael Amir Murillo and Yoel Bárcenas, the Ghanaian coach opted for more changes just before the hour mark.
Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ernest Nuamah made way for Brandon Thomas-Asante and Abdul Fatawu to inject fresh energy into the transition game.
Panama responded with structural changes of their own, introducing star forward José Fajardo and Ismael Díaz. The contest opened up significantly in the final 15 minutes as both sides searched for a decisive breakthrough.
Just as the match appeared destined for a goalless stalemate, the dramatic climax arrived four minutes into the allotted stoppage time. A swift Ghanaian build-up pierced the tired Panamanian backline, allowing Yirenkyi to latch onto the ball and fire past Orlando Mosquera.
A tense video assistant referee (VAR) check for a potential infraction followed, but the goal was definitively awarded, sparking wild celebrations in the Ghanaian blocks.
The victory breathes new life into Ghana’s 2026 campaign, snapping a dismal run of four losses in their final five warm-up friendlies.
The Black Stars will look to carry this newfound momentum into their next Group L fixture against powerhouse England on June 23 at the Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, while Panama faces a must-win clash against Croatia to keep their tournament hopes alive.
