Ghana set to continue dominance over Nigeria at Africa U20

Published on: 18 April 2011

Title holders Ghana will be seeking to continue their dominance over Nigeria’s U20 side when the two teams clash in their opening Group B game at the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) on Monday.

The Black Satellites, who won the title two years ago in Rwanda, will face a well-drilled Flying Eagles side who have had thorough preparation for this tournament.

Nigeria’s U-20 side have met with their Ghanaian counterparts thrice at the AYC, losing on the three occasions.

Their intention of breaking the jinx has been made difficult by the presence of several talented players in the Black Satellites squad.

Ghanaian sides are normally not clinical in attack but this Satellites squad boasts of good finishers, which bodes well for the title holders.

Genoa striker Richmond Boakye Yiadom and Mahatma Otoo were terrifying in the way he took on his opponents in the qualifiers and if they are able to replicate that form on Monday the Black Satellites should brush aside the Nigerians.

Coach Orlando Wellington’s defence is also strong with the presence of  Italy-based left back Masawudu Alhassan and experienced Hearts of Oak centre-back Karim Alhassan.

Metz striker Kwame Nsor, who is known as the ‘Adebayor’ of Ghana football because of his height, is also in the Ghana team as well as Benfica midfielder Enoch Ebo Andoh.

Spain-based Bright Addae and James Bissue of Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva are also in good form.

Wellington also admits that the first game with Nigeria is quite important for his team.

“It’s one game at a time. We can’t think beyond that game. We only have Nigeria to think about for now, Nigeria have a good side, they are very strong. We respect them,” he said.

“We would play to protect our status as champions. Every team we play against would be motivated to beat us but we want to ensure that we keep our title.

“I have enough confidence in my team to challenge for the title again. This present squad can go on to win it,” the Ghana coach boasted.

However, the John Obuh-led U-20 Nigeria team will have another chance to break the jinx with nine players from the squad that finished second at the U17 World Cup two years ago.

Holland-based Ahmed Musa is the key players for the Nigerians while Stanley Okoro and Peter Utaka can cause some anxious moments for the Black Satellites

The other teams in the group of death, Group B, are Cameroun and Gambia.

“We are in good spirits since our arrival here in South Africa,” Obuh said.

“We just want to go out there and get the result we came here for. We clashed with Ghana in an invitational tournament last year and I also watched Cameroun play against Egypt in Dubai, so we have gathered some useful information about these teams already,” he added.

Ghana had defeated Nigeria 4-1 in the 2001 AYC group stages, 1-0 in the 1999 final for one of their three titles and 1-0 in 1993 group stage.

Kick off time is 10:00am Ghana time.

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