Laryea Kingston: I will advise the Black Stars not to underrate Panama

He knows what can happen when you underrate your opponent. Laryea did not face Zimbabwe, whom many thought was going to be a walk in the park for Ghana during the final game of Group D of the 2006 AFCON, when a win over the minnows would have sent Ghana to the quarter finals. The Black Stars lost 2-1 to Zimbabwe while Laryea Kingston was serving a four-match ban after an altercation with Senegalese defender Habib Beye in Isamaila on matchday 2. The Ghana squad then is still shocked by that defeat, just like most Ghanaians who witnessed that disaster on the night of 31st January 2006.

Now the U-17 heads coach of Uganda, Laryea Kingston, monitored Ghana’s scintillating draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from afar and has advised Otto Addo and his charges to be vigilant against the minnows, Panama.

‘Ghana is in a tough group. I will advise the Black Stars not to underestimate Panama. Their qualification to the tournament was not just by fluke,” Laryea said.

Ghana was drawn in Group L of the FIFA World Cup alongside England, Croatia and Panama. Thinking about how the Black Stars will qualify from the group, football fans across the country have targeted the three points against Panama as they see them as the easiest, which Laryea disagree.

Panama in Group A of the North & Central America qualifiers won three games, drew three and lost none in games against Suriname, Guatemala and El Salvador. The CONCACAF envoys will embark on their second-ever FIFA World Cup after being defeated by England and Belgium in the 2018 edition in Russia.

Ghana will face Panama in their opening game of the competition on 17th June at the BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. Six days later, the Black Stars will meet England in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in the USA at Gillette Stadium. The Black Stars will complete their group games with a huge task against Croatia on the 27th of June in Philadelphia at the Lincoln Financial Field in the USA.