Ghana’s Black Satellites are set to face their fiercest rivals, Nigeria, in the final of the WAFU B U20 Championship on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, in Togo.
Nigeria currently holds the title after winning it in Côte d’Ivoire last year, and the Black Satellites are determined to reclaim the championship they won in 2020 from their rivals.
Ghana’s journey to the final has been characterized by resilience, individual brilliance, and teamwork, as they navigated a tough group that included hosts Togo, Benin, and Niger.
The Black Satellites topped their group after drawing twice against Togo (1-1) and Benin (2-2), and defeating Niger 2-0, before rallying from behind to beat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in the semi-finals.
On the other hand, Nigeria had a slow start to the competition but gained momentum as the Championship progressed. They lost 1-0 to Burkina Faso before bouncing back to defeat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 to reach the semi-finals, where they came from behind to beat Niger 3-1, setting up a final against their eternal rivals, Ghana.
The final is scheduled for 19:00 GMT at Stade de Kegue in Lomé. Ghana’s Coach, Desmond Ofei will be counting on stars like Jerry Afriyie, Aziz Misbau, and Asamoah Kuffuor to win the competition, while Nigeria is relying on players like Clinton Jephta and Ibrahim Alonge.
The WAFU B U20 Championship is crucial as it determines qualification for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, with only Ghana and Nigeria securing spots.
Additionally, the 2025 U20 AFCON will serve as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
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