Satellites Turn Focus Against Senegal

The Black Satellites have turned their attention quickly to the next stages of the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) after sailing past Ethiopia.

The national U-20 team will meet Senegal phase of the qualifiers, and Masa-ud Didi Dramani, who masterminded the success over Ethiopia wants the team to focus on the next target.

“The team played very well and we deserved the victory but we have to move on from there and start preparing for the next game,” Dramani told Accra-based radio station, Citi FM.

“My understanding of the game allows me to continue working on improving my side both physically and tactically and that is what we have to continue doing.” he said.

The winner of the tie will book qualification to Zambia for the 2017 edition of the AYC.

Satellites Turn Focus Against Senegal

Satellites Return From Ethiopia

The Black Satellites of Ghana has returned from Ethiopia after honouring the first leg if the 2017 Africa Youth Championship qualifier in Addis Ababa.

The national U-20 team lost the game 1-2 on Sunday, and has returned to prepare for the second leg in a fortnight.

The team arrived at the Kotoka International Airport earlier on Monday, and the players were immediately dispersed to take a rest and resume camp later this week.

Ghana will need to score a goal without conceding to stand a chance of playing either Tunisia or Senegal in the third and final phase of the qualifying series.

Satellites Return From Ethiopia

Didi Blames Ethiopia Weather

Masud Didi Dramani, head coach of Ghana’s U-20 National team, blamed the weather for his side’s 1-2 defeat to Ethiopia in the first leg of the 2017 Africa Youth Championship qualifier in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

The Black Satellites conceded the two goals under 10 minutes, but pulled one back courtesy of Jonathan Osabutey’s late consolation goal.

“It was a difficult game not in terms of technical, or tactical but in terms of climatic conditions, which was something we were thinking about.

“We tried to strategise, we strategised very well in order to try and conserve a lot of energy to last the full duration of the game and, unfortunately, we committed individual technical errors, which you cannot correct as a coach when the game is going on,” he said in a post-match interview.

He praised the team for an impressive performance, despite the hot humidity and is certain of a victory in the second leg to qualify.

“Yet, still, I want to congratulate these boys because what they went through, only God knows. … They were going through their first and [worst] experience of their lives, if not for what I had told them about what the altitude was all about.

“But I think they were able to fight. We had to push them beyond [their limit] and we ended the game in the opponents’ half. We were always pushing for the needed goals,” he added.

The winner of the tie over the two legs will meet either Tunisia or Senegal.

Didi Blames Ethiopia Weather

Ghana Suffer Defeat In Addis Ababa

Ghana suffered defeat in the first leg of the 2017 Africa Youth Champions qualifier against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

The national U-20 team went down 2-0 under 10 minutes, but 88th minute consolation goal from Jonathan Osabutey means the former world youth champions return to Ghana with an advantage ahead of the second leg.

Didi Dramani named an attack minded team and he paid the price early as the host took the lead within four minutes into the game.

Three minutes later, Ethiopia doubled their advantage, giving Ghana mountain to climb.

The Satellites bulked up and took the game to their opponents but were unable to reduce the deficit within the first half.

Ghana improved the second department of the game but breaking the back line of Ethiopia was difficult. However, at the dying embers the Jonathan Osabutey scored to reduce the deficit.

Time ran out for Ghana to draw parity, but the away goal gives the Satellites the edge ahead of the second leg in Accra in a fortnight.

The winner of the tie over the two legs will meet Tunisia or Senegal.

Ghana Suffer Defeat In Addis Ababa

Ghana XI v Ethiopia

Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, head coach of the Black Satellites has named his starting XI to face Ethiopia on Sunday afternoon in the 2017 African Youth Championship qualifier in Addis Ababa.

Experienced Premier League duo Daniel Amoah and Issahaku Konda will be at the heart of defence with Enoch Adu and Geoffrey Acheampong as wing backs.

Dreams FC’s Emmanuel Lomotey, Unity Stars Michael Otu and Inter Allies Isaac Twum will marshall the centre of the pitch for the Satellites.

The attacking department of the team will be spearheaded by Asante Kotoko’s Dauda Mohammed, and with him to seek to do the damage is Charles Boateng and Jonathan Osabutey.

The winner of the tie over two legs will play Tunisia or Senegal.

Ghana U20 starting XI: Kwame Baah, Enoch Adu, Geofrey Acheampong, Daniel Amoah, Issahaku Konda, Michel Otuo, Isaac Twum, Emmanuel Lomotey, Jonathan Osabutey, Charles Boateng, Dauda Mohamed (c).

Subs: Joseph Paintsil, Evans Mensah, Moses Sarpong, Nicholas Opoku, Benjamin Asiedu, Kingsley Fobi, Mohammed Armando

Ghana XI v Ethiopia

Ghana Beat Namibia

Ghana’s impressive preparations for this month’s Africa Youth Championship (AYC) qualifier Ethiopia continued as they beat Namibia 4-1 in a friendly.

The Black Satellites who were superior in the encounter had their noses in front courtesy of Dauda Mohammed, who later scored his second of the game in the second department at the at the Lizzy Sports Complex.

Jonathan Osabutey added Ghana’s second before Pandeni Kandjabanga reduced the deficit for the Young Warriors.

Dreams FC midfielder Emmanuel Lomotey restored Ghana’s two-goal lead before Mohammed added the fourth goal in the second half of the game.

Namibia will face South Africa on May 31, while Ghana take on Ethiopia.

Ghana Beat Namibia

Ghana To Play Either Ethiopia OR Somalia

Ghana Black Satellites will play the winner of Ethiopia v Somalia in the upcoming Africa Youth Championship qualifiers scheduled to take place in Zambia next year.

The national U-20 team will join the qualifiers in the second and has been drawn against either Ethiopia or Somalia.

The draws were conducted during the CAF Executive Committee meeting held on Friday, 5 February 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Seven teams will emerge from the qualifiers to join the hosts for the final tournaments early next year.

The final tournament of the U-20 AFCON has been fixed for 26 February to 12 March 2017 in Zambia.

The top four countries at the continental championship will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA World Youth Championship in South Korea.

Ghana finished third in the last edition the Africa Youth Championship in Senegal and were knocked out of the World Cup in New Zealand after 3-0 loss to West Africa neighbours, Mali at the round of sixteen.

Ghana To Play Either Ethiopia OR Somalia

U-17 Is For Future Not Now - Fabin

Ghana national U-17  head coach, Paa Kwesi Fabin has played down expectations that the Black Starlets team being put together should win trophies for the country.

The Black Starlets were a force to reckon with in the youth tournaments both in Africa and in the world, winning the Under-17 World Cup trophy in 1991 and 1995, but has since gone blank in the subsequent competitions.

But  the former Hearts of Oak coach Fabin, who is yet to lead Ghana to a world youth championship after failing to guide the Black Starlets past the group stage of the 2013 Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations, says building a youth team purposely to groom them for the future, and that winning trophies is a bonus.

“You see people say we want trophies. Yes, the reason why this Under-17 team was brought about was to get people to graduate to the next level and not necessarily for trophies but along the line if we are able to win a trophy, that’s all well and good,” Fabin told Starr FM.

“Definitely at the back of my mind I am looking at working hard, getting to that level and then probably winning that trophy before I quit but I must confess it is not my priority.”

Paa Kwesi Fabin recently completed a nationwide tour for talents and has also named 40 from theAirtel Rising Stars to build a final team for th 2017 Africa Youth Championship in Madagascar.

Ghana was drawn against Liberia in the preliminary phase of the qualifiers. The fixture will be played between 24 and 26 June and  the return encounter will be played between July 1 and 3.

U-17 Is For Future Not Now - Fabin