Ghana entered this Group L opener as firm favourites and largely justified that billing, though Panama made them work hard for all three points at a sold-out BMO Field. Thomas Partey was the architect of everything positive for the Black Stars — his ability to play through Panama's press and switch the ball quickly gave Ghana's wide attackers the space they needed. Kamaldeen Sulemana was electric down the left in the first half, and it was his low cross that Iñaki Williams converted with a composed near-post finish on 18 minutes. Panama, organised in a compact 4-4-2 under Tomás Christiansen's successor, were content to absorb pressure and hit on the counter. They were rewarded almost immediately after the restart when Adalberto Carrasquilla threaded a brilliant through-ball for Ismael Díaz, who rounded Ati-Zigi and slotted home to level. The equaliser stung Ghana into action, and Partey's long diagonal on 76 minutes found Antoine Semenyo in behind Roderick Miller — the Manchester City winger took one touch and drove low across goal for the winner. Panama pushed desperately in the final ten minutes, with Fidel Escobar picking up a yellow card for a cynical foul as Ghana held on for a crucial opening victory.

• Iñaki Williams opened the scoring with a clinical near-post finish — his 3rd goal in 5 World Cup qualifying appearances for Ghana.
• Panama's low-block 4-4-2 restricted Ghana to mostly wide approaches, but Semenyo's pace proved the difference-maker in the second half.
• Thomas Partey bossed the midfield with 91 touches and 7 ball recoveries, dictating the tempo from deep.
• Ismael Díaz's equaliser was Panama's only shot on target in the first 65 minutes — a moment of individual brilliance against the run of play.
• Ghana's xG (2.31) comfortably outpaced Panama's (1.04), reflecting a dominant territorial performance despite the nervy final 15 minutes.
• Antoine Semenyo's winner came from a Partey switch-pass that split Panama's defensive line — a set-piece-quality delivery in open play.