Toronto, June 17:
Ghana and Panama will both be aiming to launch their World Cup campaigns on a winning note when they meet in their Group L opener at Toronto Stadium on Thursday.
The Black Stars head into the tournament under pressure after a difficult run of form in recent months. Although Ghana qualified comfortably for the World Cup by topping their CAF qualifying group, the four-time African champions have failed to win any of their last seven matches, losing six of them.
Their disappointing run also led to the departure of former coach Otto Addo, with veteran Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz now tasked with reviving the team’s fortunes. Queiroz, who previously managed Iran at the 2022 World Cup, is taking charge of his ninth national team.
Despite their recent struggles, Ghana will hope a strong showing in North America can help erase memories of their failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in two decades.
Panama, meanwhile, arrive in Canada with growing confidence. After making their World Cup debut in 2018 and exiting in the group stage, Los Canaleros are now targeting a place in the knockout rounds for the first time.