Caleb Yirenkyi made his mark in Ghanaian football history after netting a 90th-minute winner as the Black Stars edged out Panama 1-0 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L opener, Yankee Scores reports.
Panama dominated most parts of the match and Ghana had a difficult first half, they didn’t get a short on target until the 45th minute.
The Canaleros were the dominant side in terms of possession and their best chance came as early as the second minute when Cecilio Waterman forced a diving save from keeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
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— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) June 18, 2026
The second half was another story. Ghana’s attacking threat massively increased from the 57th minute when Abdul Fatawu and Brandon Thomas-Asante came off the bench adding pace and helping turn the tide in the Black Stars’ favour.
Ati-Zigi had also gone off through injury at the beginning of the second half, with substitute Benjamin Asare coming on to make three important saves and prevent Panama from going ahead.
Per ESPN, Antoine Semenyo was involved in all of Ghana’s good play and it was he who started the decisive move late on, sending Thomas-Asante through down the left.
The Coventry City man crossed into the six yard box and Yirenkyi stretched to force the ball over the line to send Toronto into a frenzy. Managed by Thomas Christiansen, Panama had dominated for long periods and will feel hard done by to come away with nothing.
They have now lost all four World Cup games they have ever played. It was the first senior international engagement between the two countries. Ghana are second in the table after beating Panama 4-2 in the other Group L fixture with the Central American side third ahead of matchday two.
Ghana will take on England on 23rd of June in Boston
