{"id":1459874,"date":"2026-06-18T02:49:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T01:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1459874"},"modified":"2026-06-18T02:49:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T01:49:03","slug":"post-match-analysis-ghana-vs-panama-17-06-26","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-ghana-vs-panama-17-06-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghana vs Panama stats and analysis: How Black Stars turned things around in the second half"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/ghana-world-cup-2026-odds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ghana<\/a> played a much better final 45 minutes to defeat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/panama-world-cup-2026-odds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Panama<\/a> in their 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/world-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">World Cup<\/a> opener.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It took the Black Stars around an hour to finally get into the game. They struggled mightily until that point with the Canaleros the much better team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They eventually got a late winner in the 95th minute thanks to Caleb Yirenkyi. But it was an English football quartet of Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Abdul Fatawu that carried the African side home. Let&#8217;s dig in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>How did Ghana improve from first to second half against Panama?<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-panama-s-dominant-first-half\" data-level=\"3\">Panama&#8217;s dominant first half<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-ghana-press-do-better-button-in-the-second-half\" data-level=\"3\">Ghana press &#8216;do better&#8217; button in the second half<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-carlos-queiroz-s-variations\" data-level=\"3\">Carlos Queiroz&#8217;s variations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-panama-s-dominant-first-half\">Panama&#8217;s dominant first half<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Jordan Ayew&#8217;s aerial prowess was the only thing that worked for Ghana in the first half. They had no way out of their own defence and him battling in the air was how they managed to somewhat establish themselves in the attacking half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1459921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-214x267.jpg 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-160x200.jpg 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-48x60.jpg 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7-59x74.jpg 59w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18024145\/player_-pitch-3-stats-7.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s because Panama had them completely under control for the first 45 (60, really) minutes. Thomas Christiansen&#8217;s 3-2-5 in-possession shape countered the Black Stars&#8217; zonal marking perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They always managed to place their players not only between the lines, but between opponents. There were passing lanes all over the pitch that enabled them to play out from the back and enter the final third via short passes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1459912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-267x267.jpg 267w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-60x60.jpg 60w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2-74x74.jpg 74w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18021719\/team_-average-positions-2.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever Ghana jumped from their deep 4-1-4-1 mid-to-low block into a 4-2-4 press, the Canaleros often found one of their two centre-midfielders completely free to carry the ball forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They did struggle to turn those advantageous scenarios into concrete opportunities. Still, Ghanaian goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi was so busy in the first half trying to anticipate long balls and crosses, that he clashed multiple times with opponents and left the game at the break.<\/p>\n\n\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Bet \u00a310 &amp; Get \u00a330 in Free Bets with Bet365<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Not signed up to bet365 yet? 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Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&amp;Cs apply.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ghana-press-do-better-button-in-the-second-half\">Ghana press &#8216;do better&#8217; button in the second half<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ghana struggled mightily in the first half. Though the double substitution in 58th minute helped, with Coventry City&#8217;s Brandon Thomas-Asante and Leicester&#8217;s Abdul Fatawu coming on and changing the game, they just made their side do many of the same things from the first half &#8211; just better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"663\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-1024x663.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1459917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-1024x663.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-768x497.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-1536x995.png 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-2048x1326.png 2048w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-400x259.png 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-309x200.png 309w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-93x60.png 93w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-150x97.png 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18022847\/momentum_vis_Ghana1-0Panama_26_FWC-114x74.png 114w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Right-winger Ernest Nuamah had a difficult time trying to take Panamanian defenders on down that flank. Him starting was a surprising choice considering the injury-riddled season he had for Lyon and Fatawu&#8217;s talent, despite it not helping the Foxes avoid relegation to League One.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Leicester man had much more success in his individual runs down the right and gave left-wing-back Cesar Blackman a tough 30 minutes after Nuamah failed to challenge him early on.<\/p>\n\n\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/sky-bet?q=gb-all-soa-bs4-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sky Bet Offer<\/a>: Get \u00a340 in free bets when you place any bet<\/h2>\r\n<p>Looking for some free bets to boost your betting fund? 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ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&amp;CS APPLY.<\/h5>\r\n<hr \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Thomas-Asante came on to do what Antoine Semenyo tried and failed in the later stages of the second half as a second striker playing off of Ayew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And Semenyo found more success when he went back to playing on the wing &#8211; but with more freedom to drift inside.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"663\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-663x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1459918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-663x1024.png 663w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-194x300.png 194w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-768x1186.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-995x1536.png 995w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1326x2048.png 1326w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-173x267.png 173w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-130x200.png 130w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-39x60.png 39w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-97x150.png 97w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-48x74.png 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023149\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC.png 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 663px) 100vw, 663px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Antoine Semenyo&#8217;s heat map vs Panama in the first half<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"663\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-663x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1459919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-663x1024.png 663w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-194x300.png 194w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-768x1186.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-995x1536.png 995w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-1326x2048.png 1326w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-173x267.png 173w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-130x200.png 130w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-39x60.png 39w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-97x150.png 97w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1-48x74.png 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023217\/heat_map_Semenyo_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1.png 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 663px) 100vw, 663px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Antoine Semenyo&#8217;s heat map vs Panama in the second half<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-carlos-queiroz-s-variations\">Carlos Queiroz&#8217;s variations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of Semenyo, he was the personification of Carlos Queiroz&#8217;s tactical approach this game. The 73-year-old manager tried a lot of different things throughout the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He took over Ghana in April and had little time to implement his own ideas before the World Cup. So he started testing things on the fly.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"663\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-663x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1459920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-663x1024.png 663w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-194x300.png 194w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-768x1186.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-995x1536.png 995w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-1326x2048.png 1326w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-173x267.png 173w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-130x200.png 130w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-39x60.png 39w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-97x150.png 97w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC-48x74.png 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/18023743\/passing_network_Ghana1-0Panama_Ghana_26_FWC.png 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 663px) 100vw, 663px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Ghana&#8217;s passing network map vs. Panama<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>He went back and forth from a 4-1-2-3 to a 4-4-2 in-possession, as well as from 4-2-4 to 4-4-2 to 4-1-4-1 out of possession. Semenyo started on the left wing, became a second striker on the left, then on the right, then back to left-winger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kamaldeen Sulemana switched from a left-winger to a left-centre-midfielder and sometimes second striker out of possession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Queiroz wanted them to take a patient approach with the ball to invite Panama&#8217;s pressure and then find space in behind. But then quickly adapted when he noticed it wasn&#8217;t working and Jordan Ayew seemingly could not lose a single aerial duel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Panama showed more for two thirds of the game, but couldn&#8217;t capitalise whenever they got near Ghana&#8217;s goal. Meanwhile, the Black Stars&#8217; strong final 30 minutes were enough to give them the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A draw would have been bad for both sides with England and Croatia heavily favoured against them. Now, Ghana at least managed to end the first round in second place.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/world-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions\/\"><strong>World Cup predictions &amp; tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/world-cup-outright-odds\/\"><strong>World Cup outright odds <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/world-cup-2026-fixtures-results\/\"><b>World Cup fixtures &amp; results<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/world-cup-2026-betting-offers\/\"><b>World Cup free bets<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ghana played a much better final 45 minutes to defeat Panama in their 2026 World Cup opener. It took the Black Stars around an hour to finally get into the game. They struggled mightily until that point with the Canaleros the much better team. They eventually got a late winner in the 95th minute thanks&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3354,"featured_media":1459922,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Ghana Panama","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ghana played a much better final 45 minutes of the game after a poor first half to defeat Panama in their 2026 World Cup opener.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[27631],"class_list":["post-1459874","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","squawka-category-world-cup"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ghana vs Panama stats and analysis: How Black Stars turned things around in the second half | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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