Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President, George Afriyie, has voiced confidence that the Black Stars can secure a victory over Panama in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Ghana will kick off their campaign in Group L against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23 and concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27.
In an interview with Graphic Sports, Afriyie emphasized the importance of starting the tournament with a win.
“I expect us to beat Panama. The first match is very important and, among our group opponents, trust me, our best bet is against Panama,” he said.
He acknowledged the challenge posed by the other teams, noting, “We all know England and Croatia are ahead of us in terms of FIFA rankings, but national team football is quite tricky.”
To prepare for the World Cup, the Black Stars will play friendlies against Austria and Germany later this month, followed by matches against Mexico in May and Wales on June 2.
After group-stage exits in both 2014 and 2022, Ghana is aiming for a stronger and more competitive showing on North American soil this summer.
