Ghana U-20 head coach Desmond Ofei has expressed his relief after his team avoided a group-stage clash with Nigeria at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Black Satellites have been placed in Group C alongside tournament hosts Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and a yet-to-be-confirmed team from the UNIFFAC region.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has found itself in a highly competitive Group B, featuring Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.
Ofei, who guided Ghana through the qualifiers, acknowledged the difficulty of Nigeria’s group and welcomed the opportunity to navigate what he believes is a more manageable path to the knockout rounds.
“We are happy not to be in Group B because it is a very interesting group,” Ofei told Joy Prime Sports.
“I think we are in a position where we can influence the course of the tournament from our point of view.”
The coach’s reaction comes in the wake of Ghana’s recent setback against Nigeria, having suffered a 2-1 defeat in the final of the WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship last year.
That loss underscored the long-standing football rivalry between the two West African nations, making a potential early encounter at AFCON 2025 a highly anticipated prospect.
Despite his relief, Ofei remains focused on the challenge ahead. Côte d’Ivoire, as the host nation, is expected to be a formidable opponent, while DR Congo and Tanzania will be eager to make an impression.
The final team from the UNIFFAC region is yet to be determined, but Ghana will have to prepare for all possible scenarios.
The Black Satellites will be looking to reclaim past glory, having won the tournament four times, with their last triumph coming in 2009.
With Ofei at the helm, Ghana’s U-20 side will aim to make a deep run in the competition and challenge for the title.
As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on Ghana’s preparations and whether they can capitalize on their group-stage draw to mount a serious challenge for the continental crown.
