Joseph Opoku’s late goal proved decisive as Ghana edged the Central African Republic 1-0 to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The forward found the net in the 84th minute, breaking a long-standing deadlock in a tightly contested encounter on the final day of Group C fixtures.
Opoku’s strike not only clinched victory but also ensured that the Black Satellites topped their group with seven points from three matches.
Both sides entered the match aware that the stakes were high.
Ghana sought to cement their position at the summit of the group, while the Central African Republic were hoping to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.
The first half was evenly balanced, with few clear-cut chances and both defences standing firm.
Ghana pressed for a breakthrough, but the Central African Republic maintained their shape, frustrating their more favoured opponents.
As the clock ticked down, Ghana intensified their attacking pressure, determined not to leave qualification to chance.
Their persistence paid off when Opoku seized on a rare lapse in the Central African defence to slot home what would be the game’s only goal, sparking jubilant celebrations on the Ghanaian bench.
The victory marked Ghana’s second win in the group stage, following a draw and an earlier triumph, giving them a total of seven points.
The result also meant that the Central African Republic exited the tournament with just one point from three matches.
The final standings in Group C saw Ghana finish in first place, followed by Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both with four points. However, Senegal claimed second position by virtue of goal difference.
The Central African Republic ended bottom of the group and were eliminated.
With this result, Ghana will now turn their focus to the quarter-finals as they continue their pursuit of the continental title in Egypt.
The Black Satellites will be hoping to build on this momentum as they aim to add another U-20 AFCON trophy to their illustrious history.
