Desmond Ofei Bemoans Missed Opportunities as Ghana U-20 Settle for Draw in AFCON Opener
Ghana U-20 head coach Desmond Ofei has expressed frustration over his side’s inability to convert chances during their opening Group C fixture at the 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which ended in a 1-1 draw against DR Congo on Friday night.
The match, played under the floodlights in Egypt, saw Ghana’s Black Satellites recover from an early setback to salvage a point. DR Congo struck first through Samuel Ntandu-Lukisa, who found the back of the net with a composed finish early in the game. However, Ghana responded in style, with Aziz Musibau leveling the score after a well-worked move.
Speaking in a post-match interview, Coach Ofei praised his players’ resilience but was quick to highlight the need for greater efficiency in front of goal.
“We should have finished our chances,” he said.
The Black Satellites created several promising openings in the second half but lacked the clinical edge to put the game to bed. The draw places both Ghana and DR Congo on one point apiece in a highly competitive Group C that also features defending champions Senegal and the Central African Republic.
Ghana will next face a stern test on May 5 when they come up against Senegal, who are tipped among the favourites to lift the trophy. Meanwhile, DR Congo will clash with Central African Republic in their second group match.
With only the top two teams in each group guaranteed a place in the knockout stage, Ghana will be aiming for maximum points in their upcoming fixtures to boost their qualification hopes.
