Ghana U-20 coach Desmond Ofei laments loss of key players ahead of WAFU Zone B Championship

Ghana U20 head coach Desmond Ofei has raised alarms about the significant loss of key players from the squad that secured victory at the African Games in March, just weeks before the 2024 WAFU B U20 Championship kicks off in Togo on October 17.

Ofei highlighted that many members of the Black Satellites have transitioned to Europe to pursue professional careers since their last competition in March.

Notable departures include standout players like Abdul Hakim Sulemana, who signed with Randers in Denmark, and Aziz Issah, now part of Barcelona's setup.

“We've lost a lot of players. I think since the African Games we've lost over 9 to 10 players that have traveled to Europe to start their careers,” he stated. “So it was challenging to rebuild the whole team. However, we've got some good quality in the squad, and I’m confident they can showcase their abilities during this tournament.”

Ghana has been placed in Group A alongside Benin, Niger, and host nation Togo. This tournament will serve as a qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The draw for the qualifiers took place on September 26 in Côte d'Ivoire, and the Black Satellites are determined to return to the U20 Africa Cup of Nations after missing the previous edition in 2023.