Ghana began their FIFA World Cup win with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in Group L on Wednesday, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Caleb Yirenkyi in Toronto.

The decisive moment came in the fifth minute of added time, when Yirenkyi bundled the ball home, sparking jubilant celebrations among thousands of Ghanaian supporters.

The match had appeared destined to end goalless after both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances for much of the contest.

Panama threatened early, with striker Cecilio Waterman forcing Black Stars' goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi into action just two minutes into the game. However, opportunities remained scarce in a tightly contested first half, during which the Black Stars failed to register a shot on target.

The tempo improved after the break despite persistent rain at Toronto Stadium. Panama came close to breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute when Cristian Martinez fired into the side-netting, drawing a huge reaction from the Panamanian fans in attendance.

As the match entered stoppage time, Ghana found the breakthrough. Yirenkyi capitalized on a late opportunity to score the winner and secure all three points for the four-time African champions.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz, who took charge of the Black Stars only months before the tournament, celebrated enthusiastically with supporters following the goal.

The Portuguese tactician also reached a personal milestone, becoming only the second coach to appear at five consecutive FIFA World Cups. He previously led Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Ghana earned the victory despite the absence of midfielder Thomas Partey. The Villarreal player was unavailable after Canadian authorities denied him a visa due to ongoing legal proceedings in Britain, where he is facing rape charges. Partey denies the allegations.

The result gives Ghana an important early advantage in Group L as they look to progress to the knockout stages.