Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo says the Black Stars’ sole focus was securing victory after they opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Panama at BMO Field in Toronto.
“Everyone’s going crazy in the changing room, I’ll be honest,” Semenyo said after the final whistle. “Felt like the emotions were more celebrated. We just really wanted to win the game, and yeah, we’re happy we got the three points.”
It was a simple reflection on a night that carried far more weight for Ghana, who entered the tournament under pressure and uncertainty. Missing key players through injury and unavailability, and with a new technical direction still settling in, the Black Stars had been widely viewed as a team still searching for rhythm.
The opening half did little to ease those concerns. Ghana struggled to impose themselves, failing to register a shot on target while also seeing their goalkeeper forced off injured before the break. Panama controlled large spells, leaving Ghana to defend and absorb pressure for much of the first 45 minutes.
But football, as Ghana has often shown, rarely follows a predictable script.
Despite the slow start, the team stayed in the contest and grew into the game. Semenyo, in particular, embodied that persistence, pressing tirelessly and helping Ghana remain competitive even when attacking fluency was lacking.
The breakthrough eventually came in dramatic fashion deep into stoppage time, when 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi finished off a late move to seal all three points for Ghana. Brandon Thomas-Asante provided the assist as the Black Stars snatched victory from what had looked like a frustrating evening.
For Semenyo, the result reflected a broader mentality within the squad.
“We just really wanted to win the game,” he repeated, highlighting the collective focus that carried Ghana through a difficult match.
The forward’s journey to this stage adds another layer to his perspective. Once rejected by several English academies as a teenager and even stepping away from the game at 15, Semenyo has rebuilt his career step by step to become a key figure for club and country. Nights like this, he suggested, are part of that long story of resilience.
Before the tournament, he had spoken about Ghana’s ambition and growing belief within the squad.
“I feel like when we do come together, such a special group with endless talent, and I feel we can shock a lot of nations,” he said.
That belief now carries into a much bigger test. Ghana face England in their next group match at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23, a fixture that will carry added personal meaning for Semenyo, who was born and raised in England and will face several familiar faces.
“I don’t think it changes anything for me,” he said. “But I know that playing against my friends, I want to prove my point. I want to show that we are a top nation, we can play together, and we can beat all the top teams.”
From a tense first half in Toronto to a dramatic late winner, Ghana’s opening statement at the World Cup was anything but straightforward. But in the end, it delivered what mattered most: three points, belief restored, and momentum built at exactly the right time.
