Ghana kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a heart-stopping 1-0 victory over Panama, courtesy of a Caleb Yirenkyi strike in the 95th minute.
For 94 minutes, it looked like the Black Stars would be held to a frustrating draw, but a blistering counter-attack in the dying embers of the match sent the Ghanaian faithful in BMO Field into raptures.
It was a tale of two halves, or rather, a tale of 45 minutes of misery followed by 50 minutes of redemption.
Ghana were utterly dominated in the first period, pinned back by a Panama side that controlled 65% of possession and forced Ghanaian keeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi into a series of desperate saves.
The nightmare worsened for Ghana when Ati-Zigi succumbed to a thigh injury just after halftime, forcing debutant Benjamin Asare into the fray in the 46th minute.
The introduction of fresh legs, notably Abdul Fatawu and Brandon Thomas-Asante, finally ignited the Black Stars.
Fatawu’s pace tormented the Panamanian defence, while Thomas-Asante’s physicality caused chaos. Yet, as the clock ticked past 90, a 0-0 stalemate seemed inevitable.
Then came the sucker punch. Panama pushed forward in search of a winner and left the backdoor open.
Thomas-Asante gathered the ball on the left flank, glided past a desperate sliding tackle, and drilled a low cross into the six-yard box.
There, unmarked and with the composure of a veteran, substitute Yirenkyi swept the ball home.
The goal, coming five minutes into stoppage time, not only secured three points but served as a massive statement of intent for Otto Addo’s side.
