Ghana vs Panama - prediction, team news, lineups

Both looking to commence their World Cup campaigns connected a affirmative note, Ghana and Panama clash astatine Toronto Stadium successful the aboriginal hours of Thursday greeting successful Group L.

The Black Stars person struggled done a heap of affable fixtures up of their opening lucifer successful Canada, whilst Los Canaleros person shown signs of sizeable progression.

Match preview

Not excessively agelong ago, Ghanaian shot was rocked aft their beloved nationalist broadside failed to suffice for the Africa Cup of Nations for the archetypal clip successful 2 decades, however, each volition beryllium forgotten if they tin bask a productive summertime successful North America.

The Black Stars comfortably secured their spot astatine the World Cup with 8 draws, 1 gully and conscionable the azygous decision successful CAF qualifying, finishing arsenic winners of Group I, six points up of second-placed Madagascar.

Since their concluding qualification lucifer - a constrictive occurrence implicit Comoros successful Accra connected October 12 - Ghana person parted ways with erstwhile caput manager Otto Addo aft a drawstring of worrying results.

In fact, the Black Stars are successful the midst of a seven-game winless tally (D1 L6) heading into Thursday's opener astatine Toronto Stadium, suffering defeats to Austria (5-1), Germany (2-1) and Mexico (2-0) this year. 

Managing astatine consecutive World Cup finals aft taking the reins of Iran astatine Qatar 2022, Ghana person Carlos Queiroz has coached 9 antithetic planetary teams since archetypal taking the gig astatine Portugal successful August 1990.

During their World Cup debut connected the Russian signifier successful 2018, Panama were arguably the minnows of the 32-team competition, losing 3 group-stage matches to England, Belgium and Tunisia earlier booking an aboriginal formation home.

This clip around, Los Canaleros are looking to beforehand into the knockout stages of the tourney for the archetypal clip successful their history, with the champion third-placed way providing genuine anticipation for the Group L underdogs.

Panama were the large boys of CONCACAF qualifying during the latest rhythm with the United States, Mexico and Canada sitting retired arsenic Thomas Christiansen's broadside went six matches unbeaten (W3 D3) during the 2nd circular to publication a spot astatine this summer's shot festival.

A batch of 2026 affable fixtures person yielded mixed results for Los Canaleros, losing 6-2 astatine the iconic Maracana Stadium connected May 31 to Brazil, who were amazingly connected the backfoot for sizeable portions of the contests.

A promising show against Selecao - arsenic good arsenic a runners-up placement successful the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League - constituent towards a potentially-productive summertime successful North America for Panama.

Ghana signifier (all competitions):

L L L L L L D

Panama signifier (all competitions):

L D W L W D

Team News

Ghana are without the services of midfielder Thomas Partey aft helium was denied a World Cup visa by the Canadian government.

The erstwhile Arsenal enforcer volition stay astatine the Black Stars' grooming basal successful Boston earlier apt returning to the starting XI for the matches against England and Croatia.

Apart from Partey, Ghana person a afloat squad to prime from, with seasoned skipper Jordan Ayew expected to get the motion astatine the apical of the pitch.

The Leicester City attacker netted 7 goals successful World Cup qualifying and volition beryllium supported by the likes of Ernest Nuamah and Antoine Semenyo from the flanks.

Arguably Panama's champion player, Adalberto Carrasquilla has missed each of his nation's warm-up matches owed to injury.

However, the Pumas midfielder was spotted successful grooming connected Sunday and could play a portion successful Toronto disconnected the bench, with caput manager Christiansen refusing the unreserved the 27-year-old back.

Anibal Godoy is the elder statesmen of Los Canaleros astatine the property of 36, hoping to triumph his 156th planetary headdress connected Thursday.

Ghana imaginable starting lineup:

Ati-Zigi; Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah; Owusu, Yirenkyi, Nuamah, Boakye, Semenyo; Ayew

Panama imaginable starting lineup:

Mosquera; Ramos, Cordoba, Andrade; Murillo, Godoy, Harvey, Davis; Rodriguez, Diaz, Fajardo

We say: Ghana 1-1 Panama

After a stuttering tally of affable results, Ghana request to find their feet rapidly astatine this World Cup, with England and Croatia to travel adjacent week.

The Black Stars are the favourites for this lucifer connected paper, however, we expect Panama to nutrient a gritty show worthy of a point.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.