The 2023 WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys tournament has reached a premature end for the Black Satellites as they failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Despite their determined efforts, the Ghanaian team was unable to secure a victory in their crucial final group match against the tournament’s host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, resulting in their elimination from the competition.
The encounter took place at the Stade Champroux in Abidjan, where the Ivorian team took the lead just before half-time, placing the Black Satellites at a disadvantage.
Nevertheless, Ghana showcased their resilience as they managed to equalize in the 83rd minute through a well-executed header by Bentil Akwesi Duah.
Despite their best attempts to secure a winning goal, Samuel Boadu’s side fell short, and the match concluded with a 1-1 draw.
The Black Satellites’ journey in the tournament has been a mixture of results. In their opening match, they gave away an early lead in the final minute of a 1-1 draw against Niger. However, their second group match proved to be a setback as Burkina Faso defeated them 2-0, placing them under pressure to deliver in the final game.
With only two points from three matches, Ghana’s U-20 team fell short of advancing from the group stage, marking a disappointing outcome for the Black Satellites, who had aspired to progress further in the tournament.
On the other hand, Burkina Faso emerged tops of Group A, finishing with an impressive nine points after defeating Niger 2-0 in their final match at the Stade Lycee Classique.
As a result, the Burkinabe team join the Ivorians in the semi-finals, while the Black Satellites exited early from the competition.
Credit: Graphic Online
