World Cup 2026: ‘Losing A Game Like This Is Painful’, Panama Star Laments Ghana Defeat

Panama defender José Cordoba has described his team’s defeat to Ghana’s Black Stars as painful.

Panama was close to earning its first ever point at the World Cup but conceded deep in stoppage time to a Caleb Yirenkyi’s, leaving the City defender heartbroken after an otherwise encouraging display.

“Losing a game like this is painful,” Cordoba told Panamanian outlet RPCTV.

“The captains said that we should not lower our heads because we played a good game and we had many actions to score the goal.

“I think the two upcoming teams are great and as we did with Ghana, we will be able to fight them.”

Boss Thomas Christensen was left frustrated with the way Cordoba dived in on Thomas‑Asante in the build‑up to the winner.

“What happened in that last play of the goal, we have to learn that we must enter with more attitude. We had opportunities to make fouls, stop the plays and we didn’t,” he said.

“If you go to the ground, it is because you take the ball or stop it there, but in the end it’s time to get up and draw strength for the next match against Croatia.”