Ivory Coast will square off against hosts Ghana on Sunday evening in the semi-finals of the WAFU B U-20 Championship, in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter between one of the competition’s strongest sides and the nation enjoying home support.
The match, scheduled for 6:00 PM GMT at the Prampram Technical Centre, brings together two teams with contrasting journeys to this stage of the tournament.
Ivory Coast enter the tie in imperious form, having swept through Group B with a perfect record.
Wins over Niger, Togo, and Burkina Faso secured them top spot and nine points, underlining their status as early favourites for the title.
Their opponents, Ghana, took a more challenging route to the last four.
Drawn in a three-team group, the hosts finished second behind Nigeria, with four points from their two matches.
A draw against Nigeria and a win over Benin, who finished the group without a single point, were enough to send the Black Satellites through to the semi-finals.
Despite Ghana’s modest group-stage showing, the home advantage and a resurgent sense of belief have given the team renewed confidence heading into the knockout phase.
The youthful side will be relying on local support and momentum to upset the odds against an Ivorian team that has shown both attacking fluency and defensive stability throughout the competition.
Ivory Coast is on a very strong run in this UFOA B U20 Cup, said a tournament observer. They’ve looked the most complete side so far.
Ghana, however, are determined to rise to the occasion.
Their progression in front of home fans has sparked optimism, and the semi-final presents a chance to rewrite the narrative of the group stage.
While Ivory Coast arrive with the statistical edge, the unpredictable nature of youth tournaments often favours the side with heart and hunger.
Ghana will be banking on that unpredictability, as well as the familiarity of their surroundings, to unsettle the in-form Ivorians.
Sunday’s semi-final not only promises a fierce contest but also offers a preview of West Africa’s next generation of football talent.
The winner will advance to the final, where they will meet either Nigeria or Burkina Faso, who contest the other semi-final.
