Ghana Strike Late, DR Congo Hold Portugal As African Teams Search For World Cup Momentum

By Towncrier Editorial Desk

Ghana’s stoppage-time win over Panama and DR Congo’s draw with Portugal have given African football two important early World Cup moments, even as Senegal’s defeat to France underlined the unforgiving margins of the expanded tournament.

The latest round of matches delivered a mixed but competitive picture for African sides. Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in Group L through a 95th-minute goal from Caleb Yirenkyi, DR Congo earned a 1-1 draw against Portugal in Group K, while Senegal lost 3-1 to France in Group I. Reuters reported Ghana’s late winner, while match reports from The Guardian and ESPN tracked DR Congo’s draw and Senegal’s defeat.

For Ghana, the victory was valuable not only because of the three points, but because of the manner in which it arrived. The Black Stars had been made to work through long spells of pressure and a difficult first half before finding the decisive moment deep into added time. Yirenkyi’s late goal, created after a Ghana counter-attack, shifted the mood of the group and gave Ghana a stronger platform before their next fixture against England.

It was the kind of win that tournament campaigns often need: imperfect, tense and ultimately decisive. Ghana did not dominate the match from start to finish, but they stayed close enough to punish Panama at the end. In World Cup football, where group-stage qualification can turn on goal difference, discipline and late moments, that resilience matters.

DR Congo’s draw against Portugal may carry even greater symbolic weight. The Leopards returned to the World Cup after a long absence and secured a point against one of Europe’s most high-profile teams. Portugal took the lead, but DR Congo responded before half-time through Yoane Wissa, whose equaliser gave the Central African side a result that will resonate beyond the table.

For DR Congo, the performance was not just about emotion. It was built on organisation, patience and a refusal to retreat completely after Portugal’s early advantage. The team defended with concentration, looked for transition moments and showed enough composure to make the draw feel earned rather than accidental.

That result changes the tone of DR Congo’s campaign. It does not guarantee progression, but it gives the team belief and keeps Group K open before fixtures against Colombia and Uzbekistan. A point against Portugal also gives African audiences one of the tournament’s early reference points: a reminder that teams arriving with less global attention can still disrupt the expected hierarchy.

Senegal’s opening defeat to France was the difficult side of the same story. A 3-1 loss leaves the Teranga Lions needing a response against Norway and Iraq. The scoreline was a setback, but not yet a campaign-defining collapse. Senegal still have enough tournament experience and quality to recover if they tighten quickly and convert future chances.

The wider picture for African teams remains uneven but encouraging. Morocco opened with a draw against Brazil, Cape Verde held Spain, Egypt drew with Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire beat Ecuador, and Ghana have now added a win. At the same time, South Africa, Tunisia, Algeria and Senegal have suffered defeats, leaving several African sides with work to do in their second matches.

The expanded 48-team format has increased African representation, but it has also widened expectations. Participation alone is no longer the story. The pressure is now on results, progression and the ability to turn competitive performances into points.

Ghana and DR Congo have moved that conversation forward. Ghana did it through a late winner; DR Congo through a disciplined draw against Portugal. Senegal, meanwhile, now face the tournament’s next familiar test: how quickly a strong African side can recover after an opening defeat.

For African football, the early message is clear. The continent’s teams are not moving through the tournament as a single bloc. Some have started well, some are under pressure, and others are still searching for rhythm. But the wins and draws already recorded show that Africa’s campaign is alive, competitive and capable of producing defining moments.