U20 Africa Cup of Nations: Major squad blow for Ghana as CD Lugo limits top striker Jerry Afriyie to two games

The Black Satellites of Ghana will be without top striker Jerry Afriyie if the team reaches the knockout stage of the 2025 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

This is because of a decision by Spanish club CD Lugo to release the player for only the first two matches in the group stages against DR Congo and Senegal.

The club announced on Wednesday that it expects the Ghanaian youth sensation to return to the club on May 7.

“Club Deportivo Lugo announces that its player Jerry Afriyie has been called up to the Ghana U-20 national team for the matches corresponding to the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations being held these days in Egypt.

“After expressing his desire to be part of his country’s squad, the Club has authorized the Albivermello forward to travel to Egypt to join his national team’s training camp. Jerry will participate in the first two group stage matches of the U-20 continental tournament, facing the Democratic Republic of Congo this Friday, May 2, and Senegal on Monday, May 5. The Ghanaian player will return to Lugo on May 7,” the club announced on its website.

???????? @JerryAfriyiegh, convocado por @ghanafaofficial para a Copa Africana das Nacións Sub-20.

ℹ O noso xogador súmase á concentración ghanesa e participará nos 2 próximos compromisos da #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20.

???? Estará de volta en Lugo o vindeiro ???? ???????? ????????????????.#ForzaLugo

— Club Deportivo Lugo ???? (@CDeportivoLugo) April 30, 2025

The decision by the club is a major blow to the squad of Ghana’s Black Satellites and will affect their drive to clinch a fifth U20 Africa Cup of Nations title.