2026 World Cup: We battle like warriors and won with our brain, says Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz after late win over Panama

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has lauded his players for their resilience and tactical discipline after the Black Stars edged Panama 1-0 in dramatic fashion in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The four-time African champions endured a difficult contest on Wednesday at BMO Field in Toronto, struggling to impose themselves in the first half as Panama dictated large spells of possession.

But just as the match appeared to be heading for a stalemate, Caleb Yirenkyi struck deep into stoppage time to hand Ghana a priceless victory and a perfect start to their campaign.

Queiroz, who secured a winning World Cup debut with Ghana, admitted his side spent long periods without the ball but insisted the game plan was executed with intelligence and patience.

“We battled like warriors,” Queiroz told ITV during a post-match interview.

“We won the game with our brains. First, we had to suffer against a great team.

"They know how to play. We knew they would control the game. But step by step, our strategy was to let them come. This is the way to win," he added.

The result places Ghana second in Group L, behind England, who opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia.

Attention now turns to two decisive fixtures for Queiroz’s side. Ghana face England at Gillette Stadium on June 23 before wrapping up their group-stage matches against Croatia on June 27.

With three points secured, the Black Stars will look to build momentum as they target a return to the knockout stages for the first time since their memorable quarter-final run at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.