Ghana defender Alexander Djiku may not be on the pitch for the Black Stars' World Cup opener against Panama, but his heart remains firmly with his teammates.The centre-back was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a hamstring injury, with Derrick Luckassen called up as his replacement.Djiku took to social media to rally the squad ahead of Wednesday's crucial Group L encounter at BMO Field in Toronto.The absence of the vice-captain is a significant blow for Carlos

Harry Kane has drawn level with Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup finals, netting his 10th goal in the competition during England's Group L opener against Croatia.The 32-year-old captain's strike moved him alongside Lineker at the summit of England's World Cup scoring charts. The record-equalling goal came as England secured a 2-0 victory over Croatia in Boston, with Kane also providing an assist.A record within reach against

England opened their World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 win over Croatia, and the statistics show why Thomas Tuchel's side emerged as deserved winners in a thrilling Group L encounter.England created significantly more chances, generated almost four times Croatia's expected goals tally, and constantly threatened the Croatian defence throughout the match.The most telling statistic was expected goals (xG). England finished with an outstanding 2.80 xG compared to Croatia's

Ghana captain Jordan Ayew etched his name further into the history books on Wednesday, becoming the oldest player ever to represent the Black Stars at a FIFA World Cup.The 34-year-old forward reached the milestone when he led his country out for their Group L opener against Panama at BMO Field in Toronto.At kickoff, Ayew was aged 34 years and 279 days, breaking the previous record of 34 years and 185 days set by Denis Odoi during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.The landmark appearance

President John Dramani Mahama has rallied behind the Black Stars ahead of their opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, telling the players that the entire nation will be praying for them as they take on Panama in Toronto.In a personal phone call to the squad on Wednesday, just hours before kick-off, the President assured the players of the country's full support and expressed confidence in their ability to begin the tournament with victory."I asked my Vice President,

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has defended its handling of Thomas Partey's Canadian visa application, insisting it acted diligently and professionally throughout the process after the midfielder was denied entry into Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.In a statement issued following the Federal Court of Canada's decision, the GFA rejected suggestions that it mishandled the application or failed to disclose relevant information.The Association said it worked closely

Former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng has sent his best wishes to the Black Stars as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, encouraging the players to embrace the privilege of representing Ghana on footballâ??s biggest stage.Ghana begin their campaign in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia, with many observers viewing the group as one of the most challenging at the tournament. However, Boateng believes success is possible if the Black Stars can come together

Danish club AC Horsens have expressed their pride after assistant coach Pierre Bazie joined Ghana's technical team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.In a message shared on social media ahead of the Black Stars' opening Group L match against Panama, the club congratulated Bazie on reaching football's biggest stage and wished him and Ghana success at the tournament."We are also represented at the World Cup," the club wrote."Our talented assistant coach Pierre

DR Congo announced their return to the FIFA World Cup stage in memorable fashion on Wednesday, holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group K encounter.Making their first appearance at the tournament in more than five decades, the Leopards produced a spirited display to earn a valuable point against one of the competition's pre-tournament favourites and begin their campaign on a positive note.Portugal made a brighter start and took the lead inside the opening ten minutes.In

Ghanaian forward Jonathan Agyekum has completed a move to Bosnia and Herzegovina giants FK Sarajevo in the summer transfer window. The 20-year-old signed a three-year deal to join Sarajevo from Danish outfit Brondby IF.Agyekum, who was born in Denmark to Ghanaian parents, is expected to move directly to the first team of Sarajevo after years at the youth side of Brondby."Sarajevo football club confirms the engagement of Jonathan Agyekum, who signed a contract with the burgundy

Ghanaâ??s World Cup campaign has suffered an early and significant setback, with Thomas Partey ruled out of their Group L opener against Panama after a Canadian court upheld his entry ban. The decision ends weeks of uncertainty and forces the Black Stars to begin their tournament without the midfield figure who has shaped their last decade.For Carlos Queiroz, the ruling is more than a selection headache. It removes the tactical centrepiece of his side at a moment when control

Ghanaian youngster Leslie Okai has signed a new deal at Spanish outfit Valencia CF. The 19-year-old inked a deal to keep him at the club until June 2028 after impressing at the reserve side last season."I'm very excited about this moment. This is another opportunity for me to do my best  and enjoy it," said the 19-year-old. Okai, who was born in Labadi but grew up in the United States, moved to Spain in 2024 to join Valencia's U19 side.His performances

Ghana international Daniel Kofi Kyereh has delivered an emotional message on Instagram ahead of the Black Starsâ?? World Cup 2026 opener against Panama.He reflected on his long-standing connection with the national team despite being ruled out of the tournament through injury.Kyereh, who has endured more than three years on the sidelines and recently returned to competitive action, was not selected for the World Cup squad as he continues his recovery journey.In his message, the

Algeria midfielder Ibrahim Maza believes the Desert Foxes could have posed a much greater threat to Argentina if their early goal had not been disallowed during the 3-0 loss to the reigning world champions in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder was one of Algeria's brightest performers in Kansas City, but he was left frustrated after seeing what he felt was a potentially game-changing moment chalked off for offside in the opening stages.

Andre Ayew has urged Ghana's players to approach their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with courage as the Black Stars prepare for a crucial opening Group D clash against Panama on Wednesday.The former Ghana captain, who was not included in Carlos Queiroz's World Cup squad, delivered a message of encouragement on Instagram ahead of the country's first match of the tournament."Play with courage. Play with discipline. Play with heart. Fight for every ball, every minute,

Cote d'Ivoire striker Elye Wahi is at the centre of a corruption investigation after reports emerged that he was arrested by French authorities less than two weeks before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.According to an investigation by The Athletic, the 23-year-old forward was detained by French police on May 29 as part of an ongoing probe into alleged spot-fixing offences linked to a Ligue 1 match involving his club side Nice.The investigation is seeking to determine

Hearts of Oak Managing Director Julius Emunah has sent a message of encouragement to the Black Stars ahead of Ghana's opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging the team to play with courage, discipline and confidence against Panama.With the Black Stars set to begin their Group L campaign on Wednesday, Emunah said the players have the opportunity to inspire an entire nation on football's biggest stage."This is a moment that defines generations," Emunah

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has called on FIFA to review the use of mandatory cooling breaks at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging football's governing body to consult coaches and players before deciding whether the measure should remain part of future tournaments.The Portuguese coach stopped short of criticising the policy outright but said all stakeholders should be heard once the competition concludes.The cooling breaks, introduced to protect players from extreme heat,

As England prepare to begin their FIFA World Cup 2026â?¢ campaign against Croatia on Wednesday evening, former England captain and SuperSport FIFA World Cup analyst John Terry believes the Three Lions have a genuine opportunity to end decades of hurt and bring football's greatest prize home.Terry, who is part of SuperSport's star-studded FIFA World Cup analyst team , has been closely following England's preparations and is optimistic about what lies ahead for his

Ghana's campaign at the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins on Wednesday, June 17, with a crucial Group L encounter against Panama.While the Black Stars may enter the contest as slight favourites on paper, Panama arrive in the tournament with a proven system, experienced leaders and a style of play capable of causing problems for any opponent.Ahead of the meeting, understanding how Panama qualified and the tactical approach they are expected to employ could provide a clearer picture