Caleb Yirenkyi scored his first World Cup goal as a teenager to hand Ghana a vital 1-0 win over Panama on Thursday, but the midfielder insisted the result was down to teamwork, not individual glory.
The teenager praised the collective effort of the squad. Head Coach Carlos Queiroz’s side showed resilience despite the absence of Thomas Partey and a halftime goalkeeping change, with Yirenkyi crediting the technical team and nutrition staff for their impact.
Read on for the full transcript as published by ghanafa.org.
On the goal
We won the ball back. I just tried to play forward and then run forward, hoping to see what would come. I got the ball in the box and finished.
On taking the chance
That’s what we’ve been practicing since we started our preparation — get the ball to the wings and put it in the box. Then we make runs, get people in the box to finish. That’s what we’ve been doing. It’s good that today we had the opportunity to finish one.
On first goal in the World Cup
I’m very positive. Not just me — my teammates also. We have one goal, and that is to do our best in this tournament. I think that’s what we showed today.
On team’s belief
With the team we have, there’s great support around us. The senior players help us very much as young players. We just have to take the information in and do our best — run for each other, fight for each other, cover spaces for each other. Then we hope for the best.
On scoring first World Cup goal as a teenager
I think it’s the lessons he gives us — great lessons. We do a lot of training with a lot of intensity. It’s not just me, it’s everyone helping each other out. The feeling is great but I stay humble. I want to do more for the team and the country. We all hope for the best, not just for myself, but for everyone.
On hydration break and its impact
We have a great nutritionist giving us all the best insights on taking the right nutrients. We listened and we trusted him, and I think it helped very much.
On the win being a boost for England match
We are just doing what we can do best each and every day. Learn from each other, learn from the coach, learn from the people around us. We take it day by day. We don’t think too far ahead — we just work.
On change of goalkeeper at half and if it changed anything
No, I don’t think so. We are one team. Anyone who comes in is still part of the team. I think nothing changed. It was the same.
On absence of Thomas Partey
He is a great player for us to have. Hopefully, we will have him back in the next games and we hope for the best for him.
