Antoine Semenyo was crowned the official FIFA Man of the Match after producing a commanding display in Ghana’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening Group L fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto.
The Black Stars forward played a pivotal role throughout the tense and fiercely contested encounter, delivering an energetic performance that helped Ghana secure a crucial three points in their first game of the tournament.
Although midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi emerged as the hero with a dramatic stoppage-time winner, Semenyo’s relentless pressing, intelligent movement, and attacking leadership earned him recognition as the standout player on the night.
The Manchester City attacker consistently troubled the Panama defence with his pace, strength, and determination, while also helping Black Stars maintain attacking pressure during difficult periods of the match.
The game proved to be a stern test for the Black Stars as Panama enjoyed significant spells of possession and created several dangerous opportunities.
Ghana, however, remained disciplined defensively and stayed patient despite the pressure.
With the match seemingly heading for a draw, the Black Stars found the breakthrough deep into injury time when Caleb Yirenkyi struck to send Ghanaian supporters into wild celebrations and hand the four-time African champions a dream start to their World Cup campaign.
Semenyo’s Man of the Match award further highlights his growing importance to the national team as he continues to establish himself as one of Ghana’s most influential players on the international stage.
Speaking after the game, the striker expressed his joy over both the victory and the opportunity to represent Ghana at football’s biggest tournament.
“I’m just happy we got the three points. It’s a dream to play at the World Cup and to help the team win the first game means everything,” Semenyo said.
The forward also praised head coach Carlos Queiroz, describing the experienced tactician as “unbelievable” and one of the best managers in world football.
According to Semenyo, the lessons and tactical discipline instilled by the coach over the past six months played a major role in Ghana’s ability to execute their game plan successfully against Panama.
He admitted that Panama controlled possession at certain stages of the game but emphasized that the Black Stars remained focused on maintaining their defensive shape and pressing at the right moments.
“We knew there would be moments where they would dominate the ball, but we stayed compact and pressed when we had to,” he explained.
Semenyo also revealed the emotional scenes inside the Ghana dressing room after the final whistle, saying the players celebrated wildly after securing such an important victory.
“The changing room went crazy. You could see how much this meant to everyone,” he added.
The victory gives Ghana an early advantage in Group L ahead of a highly anticipated clash against England in their next match.
Panama, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when they face Croatia in their second group fixture.
By 1960news.com
