Ghana Can Pull Its Dreadlocks 'magic' That Dreaded Panama And Locked In The Win In Their 2026 Fifa World Cup Opener On England Too

For Ghana Black stars supporters in Toronto Canada, back home in Ghana and across the world, uncertainties were at the roof in their minds, hearts, and body before and during the match against Panama.

The absence of star players like the beauty-to-watch prolific midfielder, winger cum playmaker, Mohammed Kudus of Tottenham Hotspurs of the English premier league, Mohammed Salisu, a gifted center back who has a world cup goal under his sleeves and plays for a French club, AS Monaco, and prolific center back Alexander Dziku of Spartak Moscow of the Russian League who reminds Ghanaians of Jerry Akaminku's ordeal prior to the 2014 world cup when he broke the left ankle fibula in a pre-world cup friendly against Netherland, is worrying. These injured star players were part of the 2022 Ghana World cup team that shook then in-form teams like South Korea, Portugal, and Uruguay in Qatar.

From what many described as mind games against Ghana from some teams in its group, to frustrate another Ghanaian midfield boss and on-field coach known to have bossed the Arsenal of England's midfield and defined many of their play under manager Arteta for two silver medal winning seasons before departing to his current Spanish La Liga team, Villarreal, added to the heightened uncertainty of Ghana's Black Stars prospects against Panama.

Thomas Teye Partey's heightened unavailability for Ghana against Panama match that raised varied degree of uncertainties because of his Visa denial to travel with the team to Canada, coupled with brief false hope that gripped Ghanaian fans following the arguments and demeanor of the lawyers and the Judge at the 11th hour appeal hearing, nearly put to rest the anxiety that has enveloped Ghanaians and the Ghana team.

The presidential whisper by Ghana's president to the Panama ambassador to Ghana, Isbeth Lisbeth Quiel Murcia, on June 15, 2026, after receiving her credentials and welcoming her to Ghana at the seat of government the microphones captured as "we have a better team," with her response echoing hope in return, may have also been received by Ghanaians as a sign of a reinforcement of hope in the midst of Thomas Partey's Visa uncertainty.

Far from that, the unpardonable errors that were detected in Partey's Visa application forms after that brief hearing recess to make the Judge put more weight on his judicial hammer to slam the table with an echoing denial judgement to rule Partey out of the first 2026 world cup match sent some fears in the spines of most Ghanaian soccer lovers.

No doubt that many were waiting to crucify the Ghana Football administrators, lawyers and all those involved in the acquisition of Thomas Partey's Visa to Canada if Ghana were to lose the Panama match, especially when it was obvious that Thomas Partey's absence was very badly felt in that match.

Thomas Partey has always shown discipline in high stake matches and performed beyond expectation to give his teaming supporters and team a reason to party after matches.

That international disgrace to the Ghana Football Association, and Ghana relative to the events leading to Partey's Visa denial bedeviled with factual errors, administrative and managerial lapses must be investigated and those to be called out in the aftermath report of the world cup made to 'dance to their own music they composed' to deny Partey that match.

The Canadian authorities listened to the Ghanaian plea, but Ghana shot itself in the foot after the Minister of Foreign Affairs had used diplomatic and subtle media and public pressure to get the case be given a swift appeal hearing only for the Visa application misrepresentation of facts to be a slap on the faces of millions of Ghanaians.

On the Field of Play
No doubt hearts were dampened, eyes in disbelief, and bodies uncomfortable in their seats and stance when the Black stars looked uncomposed and shaky as if they were under a spell, except for the center backs, full backs, and the heroic saves and timing of goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi in the first half of the game leading to his injury. Benjamin Asare took charge of the post with ease in the second half and made commanding interceptions.

The midfield was gasping for pace, as Yirenkyi became cautious following a yellow card he attracted and had to think twice before engaging the opponent. Elisha Owusu appeared overworked by the pace and physique of the opponents.

Passes were not getting completed as if gravity suddenly became lateral, and magnets attracting leathers found themselves in the boots of Panama players. Ballooning of balls without targets became Ghana's mastery in the first half.

Nuamah seems to have underrated the speed of the opponents, especially the Panama left back at a point and was outpaced to win balls he placed ahead for racing. His recovery from injury and straight into a tough competition like the World Cup seem to weigh on him.

Semenyo was closely marked by the opponents in pairs with intentions to hurt him, as his toes at a point got unlucky and were ‘pounded’ as if it was a dancing rehearsal. At least he went down to his toes at a point to beg the toes not to give up, even if the referee's whistle ignores them.

Jordan Ayew, the skipper, used his weight and stability to slow the fast pace of the Panama attackers to Ghana's advantage in many instances, especially with aerial balls, but it appeared the opponents bated him to hold the ball longer, dancing with it thinking he could win some free kicks or spot kick, but the referee's whistle had no lens for that nor any officiating team member ready to watch a mini movie produced by VAR, especially when teams like Ghana were involved.

Releasing the balls quicker and an advancing mentality would have highlighted Jordan and the team positively to world, for Semenyo's yawning legs and Yirenkyi's swift feet were destined to beg for those balls and to avoid the starvation Asamoah Gyan went through in the 2014 World Cup match against Germany in Brazil. The good news is that at least Semenyo, Fatawu, and Yirenkyi have locks on their heads that fly to be spotted easily in the next match by Jordan.

Fatawu must continue using the sideline and touchline of the opponent to advance in subsequent matches, as it pays better than cutting through inward which can lead to a devastating counterattack with seasoned defenders and midfielders in the England and Croatia teams. The benefit of using the goal lines and touchlines is that you win a throw-in, a corner kick mostly, or the opponent wins a kick-in or throw-in to give you time to settle back. Brandon Asante exemplified it brilliantly, just as Fatawu himself with their pace, for that can break any team no matter what the level of their players are.

Suggestions for the Technical Team

Having seen the efficacy of the Ghana technical team's prowess to earn that stoppage time win, they must continue in that direction. However, what is worth emphasizing is that the game does not begin at the 45th minute. It does begin at the first minute.

Consider playing Partey as a defending miditsfielder to help the center backs as a guard rail and not to advance leaving Yirenkyi to advance. Partey must capitalize on his expertise in giving accurate long-range passes to find Semenyo, Fatawu and Brandon, for they have what it takes to outwit defenders, gain penalty, and score.

The left center back must assist the left full back to dismantle the attack on the wings, the same way the right center back and right full back combine to make the left attacker of the opponent redundant while Partey falls back as full back when the center backs go lateral to help the full backs.

The world saw how dreadlocks prepared a goal and served the Panama team late in the injury time to injure them emotionally. It was from the brisk feet of Gideon Mensah to the swift legs of Yirenkyi, then to the Semenyo's known busiest feet to Brandon Asante's fast-paced legs and back to the finisher and punisher, Caleb Yirenkyi with protection from behind by Fatawu and the others to slot in one of the most expensive goals of the tournament into Panama’s yawning net that shook like the locks on the head of all those stated above to lock in the winning goal.

Ghana Fully Represented by the Three Arms of Government and Chieftaincy

The power and beauty of leadership was truly exemplified, and it became an obvious motivational catalyst that yielded dividend. The Vice president of Ghana, Professor Nana Opoku Agyemang, the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Chief Justice, His Lordship Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, and the Asante King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II saw the express need to fully support the Black Stars with their glorious presence in Canada, and on the field. It was the representation of Ghana at all levels to support the team and highlight Ghana to the world!

The atmosphere was simply to make a statement that the Presidency, Parliament, the Judiciary, and the Chieftaincy institutions were fully behind the Black Stars. In fact, Ghana was indeed at the Stadium! From the powerful motivational electronic message from H.E. President John Dramani Mahama to the players and technical team prior to the match, to the flawless, adorable dancing moves by the Vice President of Ghana following the winning goal was enough to send the whole Ghana in an explosive jubilant mode after staying awake for an extreme ninety plus ten minutes of nervousness.

If such a beautiful period of flying national colors in unison does not unite Ghanaians to go back to the days when patriotism knew nothing about religious, tribal and partisan political inclinations, then what it will clearly tell us is that, the national anthem and the national pledge of Ghana have indeed been betrayed and injured brutally beyond repairs, and the unity that was visioned by our forebears is just one that is being managed like a wound without cure.

I rest my PEN.
Mustapha Alhassan
Pennsylvania, USA.

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