Black Satellites head coach, Desmond Ofei, believes his team is fortunate to have avoided Group B in the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw, stating that Ghana is in a position to shape the tournament’s narrative.
Ghana has been placed in Group A alongside host nation Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, DR Congo, and a yet-to-be-determined team from the UNIFFAC zone.
By dodging Group B, the Black Satellites will not have to face African powerhouses such as Egypt, Morocco, and Nigeria, who are expected to provide stiff competition.
Reacting to the draw, Ofei expressed his satisfaction with Ghana’s placement.
“We’re happy that we’re not in group B because that’s a very interesting group. I feel like we’re in a position where we can control the narrative of this tournament from our perspective,” he said on Joy News Prime Sports.
“The only downside is that we’re in a group of five and we would have to play one extra game compared to the other groups but in all I think we’re in a good position to manage the situation and the narrative quite well.”
The tournament is set to kick off on April 26, with the final scheduled for May 18. A total of 13 teams will compete in this year’s edition, with the four semi-finalists securing a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later in 2025.
