Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo was named Man of the Match following an influential display in Ghana’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The four-time African champions kicked off their Group L campaign at BMO Field in Toronto on Wednesday and secured all three points thanks to a dramatic late winner from Caleb Yirenkyi.
Semenyo emerged as Ghana’s standout performer, producing an energetic and disciplined performance on the right flank throughout the contest.
The Manchester City attacker consistently troubled Panama’s defence with his pace, direct running and relentless work rate, providing one of Ghana’s most potent attacking outlets.
The forward also played a crucial role in the decisive moment of the match. His movement stretched the Panama backline before Abdul Fatawu Issahaku delivered a pass that found Yirenkyi, who struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to hand Ghana a memorable opening victory.
Named in Carlos Queiroz’s starting lineup alongside four World Cup debutants, Semenyo combined his attacking threat with defensive responsibility, frequently tracking back to support Marvin Senaya while driving Ghana forward whenever opportunities arose.
His all-round display was central to a disciplined team performance that saw the Black Stars maintain a clean sheet and begin their World Cup journey on a positive note.
The result places Ghana in a strong position ahead of their remaining Group L fixtures. The Black Stars will next face England at Gillette Stadium on June 23 before concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27.
With an opening win secured, Ghana remain firmly focused on reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since their historic quarter-final run at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
