Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has praised his players for their resilience and tactical discipline following Ghana’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening Group L match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana secured all three points at Toronto’s BMO Field thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Caleb Yirenkyi, who emerged as the hero after a tightly contested encounter.
The Black Stars found themselves under pressure for much of the game as Panama enjoyed extended spells of possession and dictated the tempo. However, Queiroz believes his side executed their game plan perfectly, showing patience and intelligence before striking at the decisive moment.
Speaking after the match, the Portuguese tactician commended his players for their determination and ability to remain focused despite the challenges posed by the Central Americans.
“We battled like warriors,” Queiroz said in his post-match interview.
“We won the game with our brains. First, we had to suffer against a great team. They know how to play. We knew they would control the game. But step by step, our strategy was to let them come. This is the way to win.”
The victory marked a positive start to Ghana’s World Cup campaign and handed Queiroz his first win at the tournament as Black Stars coach.
Although the performance was far from dominant, the experienced manager was pleased with the maturity shown by his team, particularly in difficult moments when Panama threatened to take control of the contest.
Ghana struggled to create clear-cut opportunities for large parts of the match but remained organised defensively and continued to search for an opening. Their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time when Yirenkyi found the breakthrough that sparked celebrations among the Ghanaian supporters in Toronto.
The result leaves the Black Stars in a strong position heading into their next group fixture. Ghana currently sit second in Group L behind England, who opened their campaign with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia.
Attention now turns to a crucial showdown against England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium. The Black Stars will then conclude their group-stage campaign against Croatia on June 27.
With confidence boosted by their dramatic opening victory, Queiroz and his players will be hoping to build on the momentum as they pursue a place in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since Ghana’s historic quarter-final run in South Africa in 2010.
For Queiroz, the Panama victory was more than just three points, it was proof that discipline, patience and belief can deliver results on football’s biggest stage.
