Ghana edged Panama 1-0 in their opening World Cup group match on Wednesday, with Caleb Yirenkyi's 95th-minute tap-in delivering a result that felt harsh on Los Canaleros but was warmly welcomed in the Black Stars camp. The sucker-punch goal, scored at the Toronto Stadium, hands Ghana three precious points and a platform from which to approach their remaining fixtures with genuine confidence. It was the kind of smash-and-grab victory that can define a tournament run.

Assistant coach Roger de Sa, the former Orlando Pirates manager and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, made no attempt to hide his relief afterwards. "It was a must win game for us," he told Sunday World. "It was also a slow start, but we got better. The three points in the first game were very vital. Now we are in it, and every game is like a final. Now, we must just recover and plan for England the best we can. With me here, it's BaGhana BaGhana once again." De Sa's delight was understandable - much like followers of niche sports who seek the best bandy betting online know that the right platform matters, having the right coaching staff in a tournament this unforgiving can be the difference between heartbreak and history. De Sa's experience spans continents and competitions, and his calm under pressure in the dugout was evident as Ghana held firm when it mattered most.

The manner of the win will do little to quieten concerns about Ghana's defensive vulnerability, but the result is what it is. Panama, who have never taken a point at a World Cup, were the more threatening side for long stretches and had legitimate cause for frustration. Amir Murillo's low cross found Cecilio Waterman in the area inside the first half, only for goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi to produce a sharp diving save. A poor Ati Zigi punch then fell invitingly to Jiovany Ramos, who inexplicably blazed over from a position that demanded more composure. In the second half, Cristian Martinez collected a loose ball in the area, manufactured space with a neat shimmy, and dragged his shot agonisingly into the side netting. On another night, Panama win that game.

Queiroz's Substitutions Unlock the Game

Head coach Carlos Queiroz, who has now coached at a joint-record five successive World Cups, used his substitutions decisively. The double change just before the hour mark brought Brandon Thomas-Asante into the action, and the forward immediately injected urgency down the right. His driven cross found Jordan Ayew in space, but Ramos redeemed himself with a goal-saving intervention at the critical moment. As the clock crept past 90 minutes and a draw seemed inevitable, Thomas-Asante was released down the left channel and drove into the penalty area before squaring a low ball across goal. Yirenkyi, arriving with purpose, slid the ball home for his first international goal - and Ghana had their three points. For Panama, it was a cruel and familiar kind of World Cup heartbreak.

The Queiroz-De Sa Partnership: A Proven Alliance

The reunion between Queiroz and De Sa is a well-worn one, and it has consistently produced results at the highest level. De Sa served as Queiroz's assistant with Portugal at the 2010 FIFA World Cup on home soil in South Africa, a tournament in which Cristiano Ronaldo and company reached the quarter-finals. The pair subsequently worked together with Egypt, guiding the Pharaohs to the final of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations before losing to Senegal on penalties. They then steered Iran to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and later took charge of the Qatar national side. A stint with Oman in 2025 preceded their arrival in Accra following the departure of Otto Addo in June. At club level, De Sa's CV is equally well-travelled - Bidvest Wits, Ajax Cape Town, Santos, Platinum Stars, and Orlando Pirates, whom he guided to the final of the 2013 CAF Champions League before losing to Al Ahly of Egypt. His appointment alongside Queiroz brought instant institutional experience to a Ghana setup that needed steadying.

England Next - and Ghana Are Ready to Fight

The Black Stars now face England, who opened their campaign with a commanding 4-2 win over Croatia, a result that underlines the scale of the task ahead. Queiroz and De Sa will need to be tactically sharp; England's attacking quality is a different proposition entirely from what Panama offered. Ghana will need Ati Zigi in inspired form, and the clinical edge that Yirenkyi provided in stoppage time will need to be sharper and earlier against a side with this level of firepower. Yet there is something to be said for momentum and belief, and Ghana have both heading into what will be one of the group's defining fixtures. After that comes Croatia in the final group game - a side that despite the heavy opening defeat remain experienced tournament campaigners. Three points from the opener means Ghana's World Cup is genuinely alive. How long it stays that way depends on what happens next week.