Desmond Ofei has expressed strong confidence in the Black Stars’ ability to secure a positive result against Panama as Ghana prepares to begin its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.
The assistant coach believes the team is fully focused and determined to make a winning start when they face the Central American side in their opening Group L fixture. According to Ofei, the players understand the importance of the match and are ready to give their all in pursuit of victory.
Ghana enters the tournament with high expectations as the four-time African champions seek to advance beyond the group stage and reach the knockout rounds for the first time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars have been drawn in a challenging group that also includes England, Croatia and Panama.
Despite concerns raised by some observers regarding the team’s preparations and the absence of a number of key players, Ofei remains optimistic about Ghana’s chances. He indicated that the technical team and players are concentrating on the task ahead and are committed to delivering a strong performance in their tournament opener.
The assistant coach emphasized that the squad is prepared to fight for every point and approach the Panama encounter with determination and confidence. He noted that securing a victory in the first game could provide a significant boost to the team’s ambitions of progressing to the next stage of the competition.
The Black Stars have already arrived in Toronto, where they are finalizing preparations ahead of the crucial clash. The team is expected to complete its mandatory training sessions before taking to the field for the highly anticipated encounter.
Following the Panama fixture, Ghana will face England in what is expected to be one of the most challenging matches of the group stage before concluding their first-round campaign against Croatia. The outcomes of these matches will determine whether the Black Stars can secure a place in the knockout phase of the tournament.
With anticipation building among supporters both at home and abroad, the technical team remains confident that the players possess the quality, commitment and fighting spirit needed to make Ghana proud on the world stage. The opening match against Panama is therefore viewed as a vital opportunity for the Black Stars to set the tone for their World Cup journey and strengthen their hopes of advancing beyond the group stage.
