Panama captain Aníbal Godoy has voiced strong confidence in his side’s readiness ahead of their Group L World Cup opener against Ghana, pointing to a series of disciplined performances in their pre-tournament friendlies as proof of their growing maturity.
Reflecting on their recent outing against Bosnia, Godoy described the match as a clear indicator of Panama’s potential on the global stage. The midfielder emphasized that the team’s structured display against a fellow World Cup participant underscored the progress made during weeks of preparation.
“After seeing what we did in the last match against Bosnia, I think that’s a perfect example of what we can do in this first match,” Godoy said. “We played a very serious game against a World Cup team, and that reflects the work we’ve been doing every day in training and at the camp.”
Panama arrive at the tournament with a blend of experience and emerging quality, and their captain believes the squad possesses both the technical ability and the mentality required to compete at the highest level. For Godoy, the ambition goes beyond participation.
“We have a group with both human and technical quality. Our motivation is to make history,” he noted. “I have a very strong and profound feeling that when tomorrow(matchday) is over, we will have made history.”
The sense of belief within the squad has been built over years of consistent competition, with Godoy highlighting the resilience that has defined Panama’s journey in recent cycles. According to him, the team’s evolution has been shaped by rising expectations and the ability to navigate adversity.
“This team has been competing for the last six years, and the demands on them keep increasing because they compete so well,” he explained. “We’ve faced difficult situations and always found a way to overcome them.”
As they prepare to face Ghana, Godoy stressed that defensive discipline and efficiency in front of goal will be decisive. Maintaining a solid structure at the back while capitalizing on scoring chances, he suggested, could be the difference in a tightly contested opener.
“The key will be keeping a clean sheet, maintaining a solid defensive structure, and capitalizing on our scoring opportunities,” he added.
With confidence running high and history within reach, Panama head into their clash with Ghana determined to translate preparation into performance on football’s biggest stage.
