Ghana’s U-20 national team, the Black Satellites, is preparing for the 2025 U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, aiming to restore their reputation following mixed performances in recent tournaments.
As four-time U-20 AFCON champions, the team has been a key talent pool for the senior national team, the Black Stars, but has struggled with consistency.
The team faced a major setback in 2023 when they failed to qualify for the U-20 AFCON despite being defending champions from their 2021 victory.
Their qualification attempt was cut short during the WAFU Zone B tournament, where they couldn’t progress from a tough group that included Niger, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso.
The 2019 U-20 AFCON campaign also ended in disappointment as the team was eliminated in the group stages, despite showing some promise.
The 2017 qualifiers were especially challenging, as the team missed out on the U-20 AFCON for the first time since 2009, following a defeat to Senegal.
These achievements have kept hopes alive among fans and provided a platform for rebuilding as the team now focuses on the upcoming qualifiers.
Under Desmond Ofei’s leadership, following a tough European tour, the team aims to regroup and secure a spot in the 2025 U-20 AFCON through the WAFU Zone B tournament.
They hope to add a fifth U-20 AFCON title to their history and revive the legacy of Ghana’s youth football.
