Semenyo’s Ghana snatch late win over Panama | OneFootball

Antoine Semenyo featured for the entirety of Ghana’s dramatic late win over Panama to see them begin their 2026 World Cup finals campaign with three points.

Men's Team

O’Reilly, Gvardiol, Kovacic and Guéhi feature as England see off Croatia

Caleb Yirenkyi scored a 95th-minute winner in Ghana’s 1-0 victory to see the four-time African champions stop Panama from picking up their first-ever World Cup point.

City’s Semenyo was a busy body on the pitch for his nation, constantly transitioning from the left-wing into a more central role when Ghana searched for the breakthrough.

But credit to Panama who asked regular questions of goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi at one end of the pitch and defended in numbers at the other.

It seemed like the points would be shared as they entered the final minute of added time.

However, Semenyo – who was later named the man-of-the-match – was determined to help lead one final charge.

Features

City prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

He found Brandon Thomas-Asante who charged down the left-hand side before the Coventry man crossed the ball into the Panama box to Yirenkyi at the back post who tapped home to send the Ghana support into a frenzy.

It means they sit second in Group L with England top on goal difference following their thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia.

Ghana will now be looking to disrupt the momentum of the Three Lions when the two nations face next.

The two sides will go head-to-head at 21:00 (UK) on Tuesday 23 June at the Boston Stadium.

Elsewhere, Abdukodir Khusanov was also in action in what has his World Cup finals debut for Uzbekistan.

Goals from Colombia’s Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz meant Abbosbek Fayzullayev’s header was only a consolation as Uzbekistan fell to a 3-1 defeat.

They’ll be looking to pick up their first points when they face Portugal in their second Group K match, with kick-off set for 18:00 (UK) on Tuesday 23 June.