It's a dream come true - Jerome Opoku after making World Cup debut

Ghana defender Jerome Opoku has described his first appearance at the FIFA World Cup as a defining moment in his career after helping the Black Stars secure a 2-0 victory over Panama in their Group L opener at BMO Field.

The 26-year-old was handed a starting role in central defence alongside Jonas Adjetey and delivered a composed performance as Ghana kept a clean sheet to begin their campaign on a positive note.

Caleb Yirenkyi sealed the win with a late strike to cap a disciplined display from the four-time African champions.

Speaking after the match, Opoku said the occasion carried deep personal significance.

"It was a dream come true, you know, to play in front of the fans, and my family was there. It's something I dreamed of growing up," Opoku told the Ghana FA Media.

"And I thought it was a solid performance, you know. I'm happy to keep a clean sheet with my defenders, the backline and the two goalkeepers.

"So, it was a team effort, and we've done it. So, yeah, that's it," 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 shifts to a high-stakes meeting with England at Gillette Stadium on June 23, before the Black Stars conclude their group fixtures against Croatia four days later.

Ghana will be hoping to sustain momentum as they target a return to the knockout stage for the first time since their memorable 2010 quarter-final run.