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

Qualification Is Our Ultimate

Mas-ud Didi Dramani says qualifying the Black Satellites to the next phase of the 2017 Africa Youth Championship (AYC) at the expense of Ethiopia is his priority.

The Ghana national U-20 team succumbed of 2-1 defeat in Addis Ababa a fortnight ago, and will require at least 1 goal without conceding to stand the chance of playing either Senegal or Tunisia in the final phase of the qualifiers.

Ahead of the second leg slated for Sunday at the Cape Coast Sports stadium, the former Asante Kotoko coach said:

“I commended the boys for a good job in the first leg. Even those of us on the bench were tired because of the altitude so they did well.

“Securing the qualification is our ultimate goal and I am very hopeful that we will qualify on Sunday,” he added.

Qualification Is Our Ultimate

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

Black Satellites Urge Out NADM In Warm-up Game

Ghana’s Under 20 team, the Black Satellites recorded a 3-2 victory in a warm up game over lower tier side NADM Soccer Club at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence in Prampram on Thursday.

The match forms part of Coach Didi Dramani’s side’s preparation towards their upcoming African Youth Championship qualifier against Ethiopia.

The team departed camp after the game to enable players return to their respective club’s for the weekend’s League Action.

They are expected to return to Prampram on Tuesday to continue with their preparations ahead of the first leg tie in Addis Ababa on May 21 with the return leg scheduled for Accra a fortnight later.

Black Satellites Urge Out NADM In Warm-up Game