How Carlos Queiroz's timely substitutions saved Ghana against Panama

Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz showcased his managerial masterclass with a tactical approach and substitution strategy that salvaged the team.

In the first half of their opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ghana struggled against Panama, leaving many fans shocked.

The players were unable to hold onto the ball, control the midfield, and the attackers frequently lost possession, thwarting their chances of making a meaningful impact.

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Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, along with center-backs Jerome Opoku and Jonas Adjetey, formed a solid wall at the back, preventing Panama from scoring despite numerous opportunities.

Sensing danger, Queiroz reshuffled his side early in the second half, introducing Brandon Thomas-Asante and Fatawu Issahaku to inject energy into the attack.

With these changes, the team began to gain more control and purpose in attack, easing the pressure.

Later, Kwasi Sibo was introduced, while skipper Jordan Ayew was taken off for Kwabena Adu. The substitutions helped Ghana gain more territory and possession, though clear-cut chances remained scarce as Panama stood firm.

With the match seemingly heading for a stalemate, Ghana found a breakthrough in the fifth minute of added time. Yirenkyi started the move before Brandon Thomas-Asante collected the ball, beat his marker, and surged into the penalty area.

The forward kept his composure to pick out the unmarked Yirenkyi, who arrived at the back post to score the winner in the 95th minute.

The dramatic victory gave Ghana their second winning start at a World Cup, following opening-match triumphs against Serbia in 2010.

This proved that Queiroz’s experience as a manager came to the fore, helping the team grind out a result in a game many did not expect to go Ghana’s way.

The next game against the Three Lions presents a Herculean task, but the Portuguese coach will be expected to pull the strings to secure a decent result.

SB/JE

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