Ghana have become only the second African nation to record six FIFA World Cup victories after a dramatic 1-0 win over Panama in their opening Group L match on Thursday, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Ghana national football team sealed all three points through a 95th-minute strike from Caleb Yirenkyi at the Toronto Stadium in Canada, breaking Panamanian resistance in stoppage time.
The decisive moment came deep into added time when Brandon Thomas-Asante drove down the left wing, beat his marker and delivered a low cross for Yirenkyi to tap into an empty net, securing a crucial opening win for the Black Stars.
The result moves Ghana to the top of Group L alongside England and also sees them equal the long-standing African record for World Cup wins previously held by Nigeria national football team.
Both Ghana and Nigeria now have six World Cup victories, with Ghana achieving the feat from 16 matches compared to Nigeria’s 21.
Cameroon sit just behind with five wins from 26 matches, while Morocco also have five victories and could surpass both nations depending on their ongoing 2026 campaign.
The achievement adds another chapter to Ghana’s World Cup history, which began in 2006 when they reached the Round of 16. They went further in 2010, reaching the quarter-finals in South Africa before a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Uruguay.
Nigeria, meanwhile, have featured in six World Cup tournaments since their debut in 1994 but have missed out on qualification for the 2026 edition, allowing rival African nations the opportunity to close the gap on their historical records.
The result highlights the growing competitiveness of African football on the global stage as teams continue to challenge traditional records at the World Cup.