Ghana’s U20 national team, the Black Satellites, have qualified for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the WAFU B U20 Championship on Sunday, October 27, 2024. The hard-fought match took place at the Stade Municipal, where Desmond Ofei’s side overcame an early setback to clinch their spot in the final and a place in next year’s AFCON.
According to Ghana web, Ivory Coast took the lead early in the game, with Konan Loukou striking first for the Ivorians. Despite this early blow, Ghana maintained composure and found an equalizer just before halftime through a deflected corner, setting up an intense second half.
Star forward Jerry Afriyie, who currently leads the tournament in goals with four, stepped up to convert a penalty early in the second half, securing the lead for Ghana. Ofei’s team defended resiliently through the final minutes to seal the victory, booking their place in both the WAFU B final and the 2025 AFCON.
With this qualification, the Black Satellites are set to make a return to the AFCON Championship, where they previously triumphed in 2021 under coach Abdul Karim Zito. This year’s WAFU B U20 tournament serves as the pathway for AFCON qualification, with only the two finalists earning spots in the continental competition.
The 2025 U20 AFCON, in turn, will offer the top four teams an automatic qualification for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile. As they prepare to face either Nigeria or Niger in the WAFU B final, Ghana’s young talents are now focused on pursuing a championship win and continuing their journey to the global stage.