Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has praised his players for their resilience and tactical discipline following Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana secured all three points at BMO Field in Toronto on Wednesday thanks to Caleb Yirenkyi’s stoppage-time winner, a result that gave the Black Stars a strong start in Group L ahead of crucial matches against England and Croatia.
Speaking after the match, Queiroz said his team had to endure difficult moments before eventually finding a way to win.
“First, we had to suffer, we battled like warriors. We won the game with the brains,” the Portuguese coach said.
Queiroz revealed that Ghana’s game plan was built around patience and tactical awareness rather than trying to dominate possession from the start.
According to him, Panama’s quality was well known, and the Black Stars expected their opponents to control large parts of the game.
“First half was to suffer against a great team. They know how to play, they know how to do things. We knew that they would control the game, but step-by-step this was our strategy,” he explained.
The coach said Ghana deliberately allowed Panama to push forward before looking for opportunities to strike on the counterattack.
The approach eventually paid off when Brandon Thomas-Asante set up Yirenkyi for the winning goal in the 95th minute.
The victory was particularly significant for Queiroz, who was appointed Ghana coach in April and took charge of the team only weeks before the tournament.
The experienced manager has previously led several nations at the World Cup, including Portugal, Iran and South Africa.
Despite the win, Queiroz acknowledged that his side still has room for improvement as tougher tests lie ahead.
England currently leads Group L on goal difference after defeating Croatia, setting up a highly anticipated clash with Ghana on June 23 in Boston.
