Black Stars defender Gideon Mensah has praised his teammates for their determination and composure following Ghana's hard-fought victory over Panama in their opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The four-time African champions, making their fifth appearance at the global showpiece, kicked off their Group L campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over the Central American side on Wednesday night at BMO Field.
A late strike from Caleb Yirenkyi proved decisive as Ghana secured all three points to make an ideal start to their quest for a place in the knockout stages.
Reflecting on the significance of beginning the tournament with a win, Mensah admitted the result was a huge boost for both the players and the supporters.
"It feels very good for us," the AJ Auxerre defender said after the game.
"Coming to the World Cup and winning the first game to get three points feels good for us as players. I think the people back home and the Ghanaian fans here in the stadium are also happy that we got the first three points."
Mensah also revealed that communication on the pitch proved difficult in the early stages due to the intense atmosphere inside the stadium, but said the team adjusted well after the break and remained focused.
"As the game went on, it looked like it was going to end 0-0. Of course, we kept believing," he said.
"When the game started, it was a bit too loud for us to communicate on the field. But in the second half, we made sure we stayed in the game because we knew something was going to happen."
The left-back further stressed the importance of maintaining concentration in tightly contested matches, noting that such encounters can often be decided by a single moment.
"Games like this, you never know. It's either you're losing 1-0 or you're winning 1-0. Fortunately, we were on the better side and managed to get the goal," he added.
The victory leaves Ghana in a strong position in Group L with two matches still to play. Otto Addo's side will next face England at Gillette Stadium on June 23 before concluding their group-stage campaign against Croatia on June 27.
The Black Stars will be aiming to build on their winning start as they seek to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time since their historic quarter-final appearance in South Africa in 2010.
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