TORONTO, CANADA – JUNE 17: Ghana players celebrate their first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between Ghana and Panama at Toronto Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Thiago Szwarc/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)For assistant coach Roger De Sa, Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Panama at the 2026 World Cup was more than just a positive start it was the foundation upon which the Black Stars built their entire campaign.In an interview with Flashscore, De Sa revealed that head coach Carlos Queiroz had identified the opening fixture as the most important game of the group stage, even describing it as the team’s “cup final.””We always regarded the opening game against Panama as our cup final. In a group also containing England and Croatia, it was the game we felt we had to win to have a successful World Cup,” De Sa said.The win, secured by a late Caleb Yirenkyi strike, was not a classic performance, but it was exactly what the team needed.”It was a gritty and determined one,” De Sa recalled. “That result relieved some pressure and gave us the belief that we could qualify for the second round, which was our main objective.”The victory was particularly significant given the circumstances. De Sa and Queiroz had inherited a squad that had lost six consecutive matches, with morale at a low ebb. The preparation time was minimal, and injuries had robbed the team of key players, including both first-choice centre-backs and Mohammed Kudus.Despite those challenges, the players delivered when it mattered most. De Sa praised their character and humility, noting that the victory over Panama proved to be the turning point.”It was wonderful to experience how willing they were to work, learn and give 100% every day,” he said.Ghana went on to hold England to a goalless draw before exiting in the Round of 32 to Colombia. But for De Sa, the Panama win remained the defining moment the result that transformed a struggling team into one that could compete on the world stage.”Considering the players we had available and the limited preparation time, I felt it was a satisfactory performance overall,” he concluded.
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