Black Stars midfielder Kwasi Sibo has vowed that Ghana will go all out to secure victory against Panama in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dedicating the performance to sidelined teammate Thomas Partey.
Partey will miss Ghana’s Group L opener after failing to overturn a decision that denied him entry into Canada, ruling him out of the highly anticipated clash in Toronto.
The absence of the experienced midfielder leaves a major void in Ghana’s setup, especially in the centre of the park where he was expected to play a key role.
Despite the setback, Sibo says the team remains fully united behind Partey and is determined to fight for him on the pitch.
“Our brother has been through a lot, and we are always with him,” Sibo said. “He is one of the biggest stars in our team, but for that, we have to make sure we win the game for him as a family and make him happy because he has been with us from the first day we started this campaign.”
“It hurts that we are playing our first game and he’s not with us. We are giving him our word,” he added.
Ghana head into the tournament hoping to make a strong statement after disappointing recent World Cup campaigns, with renewed determination to progress beyond the group stage.
The Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama before facing England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium, followed by a final group game against Croatia on June 27.
The four-time African champions are still chasing their first World Cup knockout-stage appearance since their historic run to the quarter-finals in 2010.
