Ghana and Egypt will slug it out today, Monday, May 12, not only for a place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) but also a place at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Monday night’s match has been tagged the final for the Black Satellites as they seek to return to a tournament they won in 2009, becoming the only African country to have annexed it thus far.
The Ghanaians have been steadily building into the tournament after the opening day draw against DR Congo.
Black Satellites held 1-1 by DR Congo in U-20 AFCON opener
Desmond Ofei’s boys then rallied to beat defending champions Senegal in their second group game before seeing off Central African Republic in their last game.
With seven points, Ghana topped Group C.
Egypt, who were quickly arranged as hosts after the last-minute withdrawal of Ivory Coast, have played more matches than the Satellites.
They started with a 1-0 defeat of South Africa’s Amajitas before going heavily down to Sierra Leone.
The West Africans shocked the home crowd with a 4-1 drubbing at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.
The Egyptians then drew goalless against Zambia before saving their campaign with a 1-0 win over Tanzania in the final Group A game.
They, therefore, qualified as one of the best third-placed sides in the group.
All of the quarter-final games will be played on Monday with the Egypt-Ghana clash taking place at the Suez Stadium.
The Ghanaian squad has been boosted with the return of CD Lugo attacker Jerry Afriyie, who left camp after assisting in the win over Senegal.
He was on target in his club’s Primera Federacion game over the weekend but was called back due to the crucial tie on Monday.
