Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has urged his players to brace themselves for an even tougher test as the Black Stars turn their attention to England following their dramatic victory over Panama in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars secured a hard-fought 1-0 win in Toronto on Wednesday night, with substitute Caleb Yirenkyi scoring deep into stoppage time to hand Ghana all three points in Group L.
Ghana were pushed to their limits by a determined Panama side and spent long periods defending, but they showed resilience, discipline and composure to keep themselves in the contest before striking late.
The decisive moment arrived in the closing stages when Brandon Thomas-Asante launched a rapid counterattack and delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the penalty area. Yirenkyi timed his run to perfection and calmly slotted home to spark jubilant celebrations among Ghanaian supporters.
Looking ahead to the Black Stars’ next assignment against England, Queiroz stressed the importance of sacrifice, determination and mental strength at the World Cup.
“To suffer and play. We have to suffer; there is no other way. We must be ready to make sacrifices. You have to be ready to pay the price because a win in this World Cup is very expensive. But the boys are ready to pay that price. Very expensive,” he said.
The victory gives Ghana a perfect start to their World Cup campaign and leaves them in a strong position in Group L after England defeated Croatia 4-2 in the group’s other opening fixture.
It also provides a significant confidence boost ahead of the showdown with the Three Lions, as Queiroz’s men seek to build on their winning start and move a step closer to securing qualification for the knockout stage. Continue to More Sports.
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