By Daniel Bampoe
Black Stars forward Antoine Semenyo has been named FIFA’s Player of the Match following his influential performance in Ghana’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening Group L fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Bournemouth attacker was at the heart of the attacking efforts throughout a tense and physically demanding contest that was ultimately decided deep into stoppage time.
His energy, determination and attacking threat helped the Black Stars secure a crucial victory that could prove pivotal in their quest to reach the knockout stages of the tournament.
Ghana entered the match under pressure to make a positive start to their fifth World Cup campaign. Drawn in a challenging Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama, the Black Stars knew that anything less than victory could complicate their qualification ambitions before facing two of Europe’s strongest national teams.
However, the opening encounter proved far more difficult than many had anticipated.
Panama controlled large portions of the game and frequently frustrated Ghana’s attempts to establish rhythm and momentum. The Central Americans dominated possession for long spells and looked capable of leaving Toronto Stadium with at least a point, if not all three.
The Black Stars struggled to create clear-cut opportunities during the first half and often found themselves forced into defensive positions.
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare was called into action on several occasions as Ghana fought to remain in the contest.
Despite the difficulties, Antoine Semenyo remained one of Ghana’s most dangerous players throughout the match. Operating primarily from the right side of the attack, the forward consistently attempted to stretch the Panama defence with his pace, movement and direct running.
While many Ghanaian attacks broke down under Panama’s pressure, Semenyo continued to search for openings and opportunities to spark the Black Stars into life.
His persistence would eventually play a significant role in the decisive moment of the match.
As the game entered stoppage time, the prospect of a goalless draw appeared increasingly likely. Yet Ghana found one final burst of energy when it mattered most.
A swift attacking move caught Panama exposed, with Brandon Thomas-Asante playing a crucial role in launching the decisive attack. The ball eventually found its way to Caleb Yirenkyi, who maintained his composure to score in the 95th minute and send Ghanaian supporters into wild celebrations.
The dramatic goal secured all three points for the Black Stars and transformed what had been a frustrating evening into a memorable World Cup victory.
Although Yirenkyi claimed the winning goal, FIFA’s technical observers recognised Semenyo’s overall influence on the contest by awarding him the Player of the Match honour.
The award capped an impressive display from the forward, who demonstrated leadership, work ethic and attacking quality throughout the encounter.
His performance also reinforced his growing importance to the World Cup ambitions under head coach Carlos Queiroz.
Following the match, Semenyo admitted that the emotions surrounding the late winner were difficult to put into words.
“Ninety minutes plus five… I don’t even know how to describe that emotion,” he told FIFA after receiving the award.
The forward acknowledged the significance of the result, particularly given the challenges Ghana faced throughout the match and the importance of beginning the tournament with a victory.
“We were all so relieved because we knew how important this game was for us, and also because it gave us a confidence boost going into the next game,” he added.
