Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo played the full 90 minutes and was later named man of the match as Ghana opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Panama.
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time, with Caleb Yirenkyi scoring in the 95th minute to deny Panama what would have been their first World Cup point. Semenyo had been central to Ghana’s attacking work, shifting from the left into more central areas as the Black Stars pushed for a breakthrough.
City’s official report said Semenyo helped lead the late charge before Brandon Thomas-Asante crossed for Yirenkyi to finish at the back post, according to Manchester City’s match round-up.
Semenyo gives City fans another World Cup marker
For Manchester City supporters, the performance matters because Semenyo was not simply present in a Ghana win; he carried influence until the final whistle. A full-game display, a man-of-the-match nod and involvement in the decisive phase all strengthen the sense that he has taken momentum from club football into the tournament.
Ghana now sit second in Group L behind England on goal difference, with the two nations due to meet at 21:00 UK time on Tuesday 23 June at Boston Stadium. That gives Semenyo an immediate stage against Premier League-heavy opposition, and City fans will watch closely to see whether his Panama display becomes the start of a bigger World Cup run.
