Ghana and Panama are set to face each other in a World Cup Group L match at BMO Field in Toronto. This game is seen as a crucial opportunity for both teams to secure points before encountering stronger opponents in the group, such as England and Croatia.
Ghana, known as the Black Stars, have had a challenging preparation period. Their coach, Carlos Queiroz, was appointed only two months before the tournament, replacing Otto Addo. The team concluded its preparations with a 1-1 draw against Wales. Key midfielder Thomas Partey will not participate in the match due to visa issues, as he was denied entry into Canada. Additionally, Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed Salisu are absent from the Ghanaian roster due to injuries.
The starting lineup for Ghana includes Lawrence Ati-Zigi in goal, with Gideon Mensah, Adjetey, Opoku, and Marvin Senaya in defense. The midfield features Yirenkyi and Elisha Owusu, while Antoine Semenyo, Sulemana, and Ernest Nuamah are set to play in attacking roles, supporting captain Jordan Ayew. Three players in Ghana‘s starting XI, Gideon Mensah, Elisha Owusu, and Marvin Senaya, play for Auxerre, while Ernest Nuamah plays for Lyon in France.
Antoine Semenyo, who plays for Bournemouth, enters the tournament after a demanding campaign in the Premier League. Jordan Ayew has made 120 appearances and scored 34 goals, though his club, Leicester City, has experienced a downturn in form.
Panama’s World Cup Ambitions
Panama is making its second appearance in the World Cup, aiming to secure its first point in the tournament. The team, under former Leeds manager Thomas Christiansen, has shown improvement, finishing as runners-up in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. They qualified for the World Cup impressively, remaining unbeaten in their six qualifying matches.
Panama‘s roster features players from various leagues globally, including four from Mexico, and two each from Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the USA, Venezuela, and Panama itself. Other players are based in Austria, Azerbaijan, England, Honduras, Israel, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Turkey, and Uruguay.
The starting lineup for Panama against Ghana includes Mosquera; Andrade, Cordoba, Ramos, Blackman; Rodriguez, Martinez, Harvey, Murillo; Waterman, and captain Barcenas. Notably, captain Anibal Godoy is not in the starting XI, despite being considered a key player for the team.
Panama has a history of strong performances against the USA, having beaten them in four of their last five significant encounters, including a World Cup qualifier in 2021, a Gold Cup semifinal in 2023, a Copa America group-stage match in 2024, and the 2025 Concacaf Nations League semifinal.
The Panamanian team has risen to 34th in the FIFA rankings after victories against the United States, South Africa, and Jamaica in the past 18 months. Their realistic goal for the tournament is to advance from the group stage, with the dream of reaching the last 16.
Match Context and Expectations
Both teams will be looking to secure a victory in this opening group stage match. Ghana‘s recent experience against top-level opposition has not been positive, with losses to Japan, South Korea, Austria, Germany, and Mexico since qualifying for the World Cup.
Panama, on the other hand, has lost only two of their last 19 matches in 90 minutes. However, they were defeated 6-2 by Brazil in a warm-up friendly, indicating a potential challenge against higher-ranked teams.
The match will be played in Toronto, at the smallest venue in this World Cup, even after 17,000 temporary seats were added. The game is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, with a kick-off at midnight.
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Source: theguardian.com
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