The game in Toronto ended in a crushing defeat, with Caleb Ilenki scoring the winning goal five minutes into stoppage time in the second half.
Published June 18, 2026
Ghanaian fans and players celebrated wildly when Caleb Irenki’s tap-in goal five minutes into second-half stoppage time capped off a thorough fightback to give his team a final victory over Panama in the teams’ first World Cup match in rainy Toronto.
The goal was followed by a scuffle before the referee blew the final whistle, sealing a 1-0 victory in Wednesday’s Group L match.
After Ghana moved play quickly from their own half, Brandon Thomas Asante drove the ball into the 18-yard box on the left and rolled a pass towards the center for Irenkyi to redirect into goal.
The second half was in contrast to a very quiet first half.
The team picked up the tempo in the second half, but scoring chances remained minimal until the decisive play.
Panama had the upper hand before half-time, but after the interval Ghana took control of the play.
The match was seen as an important showdown between teams expected to compete for third place in Group L.
Earlier on Wednesday, England defeated Croatia 4-2 in a match between the group favorites.
At the start of the tournament, FIFA ranked England 4th, Croatia 11th, Panama 34th and Ghana 73rd.
Two minutes into the game, Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Gigi dove to his right to stop Cecilio Waterman’s 15-yard volley.
Panama had another half chance in the 38th minute. Ati Gigi landed a leaping punch to clear the cross. The ball fell to Panama’s Giovani Ramos, and his 14-yard right-footed shot sailed wide to the right.
Ati Gigi was substituted at half-time due to injury, allowing Benjamin Asare to score.
Ghana did not attempt a shot in the first half, becoming the first team at this year’s World Cup to accomplish that dubious feat. Jonas Ajeti ended the drought with a header that was stopped by Panama’s Orlando Mosquera in the 48th minute.
Ghanaians are missing midfielder Thomas Partey, who was refused a visa to enter Canada due to pending sexual assault charges in the UK. He denies the charges. The party will be available for Ghana’s other two group matches, both of which will be held in the United States.
Ghana is making their fifth appearance in the World Cup in the last six tournaments, their best result being reaching the quarter-finals in 2010.
Panama is playing in their second World Cup after losing all three of their group stage games in 2018.
Both teams resume play on Tuesday, with Ghana taking on England in Foxboro, Mass., and Panama taking on Croatia in Toronto.
