The Ghana U-20 Men’s team, known as the Black Satellites, recently faced off against their fierce rivals, Nigeria, in the WAFU B Cup of Nations final held in Togo.
In a tightly contested match, Ghana lost 2-1 to Nigeria, who were crowned champions of the sub-region on October 30, 2024.
The game saw a strong first-half performance from Nigeria’s team, the Flying Eagles. They dominated early on and took the lead with a fantastic goal by Kparobo Arierhi in the 33rd minute.
Ten minutes later, Arierhi struck again, capitalizing on a loose ball in the 18-yard box to double Nigeria’s advantage.
After halftime, the Black Satellites came back more determined, controlling the game with better possession and strong attacks.
Their resilience paid off in the 75th minute when forward Jerry Afriyie scored, marking his fifth goal of the tournament.
Despite Ghana’s late push and several scoring opportunities, they couldn’t find the equalizer, and the match ended 2-1 in Nigeria’s favor.
Despite the loss, the Black Satellites still have a reason to celebrate. Their journey in the WAFU B U-20 tournament has earned them a spot in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2025.
This tournament not only crowns the best U-20 teams in Africa but also serves as a qualifying stage for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, set to take place in Chile. The top four teams in AFCON will earn a chance to compete on the world stage, raising the stakes even higher.
Although they fell short in the WAFU B final, the Black Satellites have shown they are capable of competing with top teams.
Their qualification for the 2025 AFCON brings hope for an impressive run in both the AFCON and the World Cup.