Black Satellites Coach Desmond Ofei Excited for Competitive U20 AFCON
Ghana U20 head coach, Desmond Ofei, has expressed his enthusiasm ahead of the 2025 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which is set to be staged in Côte d’Ivoire.
The four-time champions find themselves in Group A, where they will face the host nation Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are also awaiting the confirmation of a second team from the UNIFFAC Zonal Union following Congo’s suspension by FIFA.
Despite the potential challenges, Ofei remains confident about his team’s ability to compete at the highest level.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Coach Ofei highlighted the increased competitiveness of African youth football in recent years.
“This can be the most exciting tournament in the history of the U-20 AFCON,” Ofei said. “Many teams are now investing heavily in international players. If you look at Congo, for example, there are Belgian players in their squad, so it’s not going to be easy.”
The coach acknowledged the depth of talent across the participating nations, pointing out the presence of several footballing giants.
“There are no easy teams, with the big guns like Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Gambia, and South Africa all representing,” he explained.
He also recognized the potential challenges his team could face should they advance from the group stage.
“Qualifying from the group stages will mean we’ll likely face one of these giants. We have to set the standards and we need to be ready to compete for the win and qualification.”
The 2025 U20 AFCON is scheduled to begin on April 26, with the final set for May 18.
Ghana, last crowned champions in 2021, will look to build on their rich history in the competition while aiming to secure one of the four available spots for the FIFA U20 World Cup.
