Ghana To Play Senegal

Ghana national U-20 team will play Senegal in the final phase of the 2017 African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers.

The Black Satellites thumped Ethiopia 4-0 at the Cape Coast sports stadium on Monday to book qualification to final round of the qualifying series on 5-2 on aggregate, and will play the Young Terranga Lions after they matched past Tunisia 4-1 on aggregate

Two goals in each half from Yaw Yeboah and one each from Dauda Mohammed and Evans Mensah were enough to earn Masa-ud Didi Dramani’s men a ticket to Dakar to face the East Africans.

The 2009 World Youth Champions first will travel it Darkar for the first leg on July 7 before hosting the second encounter in a fortnight (July 21).

The winner of the double will join seven other in Zambia for the tournament next year.

Ghana To Play Senegal

AYC Qualifier Report: Ghana Thrash Ethiopia

Ghana booked a ticket to play Senegal in the final phase of Zambia 2017 Africa Youth Championship qualifier after 5-1 aggregate victory over Ethiopia.

The Black Satellites lost the first leg 2-1 a fortnight ago in Addis Ababa, but recovered to record a resounding win on Monday.

Two goals from 2015 World Youth Championship participant, Yaw Yeboah and a goal each from Ghana Premier League (GPL) duo Dauda Mohammed and Evqms Mensah were enough to seal qualification to the next stage of the qualifiers at the expense of their opponents.

The Satellites started on the front foot just their opponents did in Addis Ababa, and scored two goals within eight minutes to take full control of the game.

However, the Ethiopians held to on go into the dressing room for recess with the tie not beyond their reach. The National U-20 team killed the tie courtesy of Inter Allies’ Evans Mensah who scored the third goal after almost an hour before Yaw Yeboah nailed the final effort to seal qualification.

The Black Satellites will meet Senegal in the final phase over two legs and the winner will book a ticket to Zambia for the Africa Youth Championship.

AYC Qualifier Report: Ghana Thrash Ethiopia

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