Jordan Ayew hails Black Stars' patience and strength after gritty Panama victory
Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew has lauded his side's patience and second-half resilience, insisting that Ghana's dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama was all about the result, not the performance.
Speaking to ghanafa.org after Wednesday night's breathless encounter in Toronto, the Leicester City forward admitted the first half had not gone according to plan. But he praised the team's composure and growing confidence as they fought back to snatch a winner in the dying moments of the match.
"The first half didn't go as planned, but we were patient. They kept the ball well and we soaked up the pressure. We looked more composed and direct. In the second half a lot changed — we grew in confidence and kept possession much better," Ayew said.
The Black Stars laboured for long stretches of the contest, with Panama controlling the midfield and creating several openings. But Carlos Queiroz's men remained resolute, and the introduction of substitutes Abdul Fatawu and Brandon Thomas-Asante injected much-needed urgency into the attack.
Ayew credited the substitutes for shifting the momentum. "The substitutions helped because we knew we had to show our strength. The energy level was very high. We played better, we were more aggressive, we fought together as a team and scored the winning goal in the dying minutes. That's all that matters," he said.
The captain, who led the line for Ghana, was instrumental in the build-up to Caleb Yirenkyi's 95th-minute winner, with his experience and leadership proving vital as the team searched for a breakthrough. The victory ended a six-game winless streak and propelled Ghana into second place in Group L behind England, who had earlier defeated Croatia 4-2.
With England lying in wait on June 23, Ayew insisted the team was taking the tournament one game at a time but remained confident in their ability to compete. "We have two important games left. We take it game by game. We are focused on securing the three points in the next match and after that we think about the last match," he said.
"It's always difficult playing at the World Cup. There are no easy games, but we believe in ourselves and we feel that anything is possible. The next game is equally important, and we are ready for it."
