U20 AFCON: Ghana Claims Victory Over Central African Republic to Lead Group C and Advance to Quarter-Finals

The Black Satellites clinched a gritty 1-0 win against the Central African Republic on Thursday at the Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt, securing the top spot in Group C and advancing to the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations.

For the majority of the match, the score remained level as CAR struggled to create significant chances against Ghana’s well-structured and disciplined defence.

With Ghana dominating possession and pushing forward through key players such as Aziz Issah and Andrews Adjabeng, resolute defending and some poor finishing prevented them from scoring until the 84th minute.

The decisive moment arrived during a rapid counter-attack when Joseph Aidoo delivered a long pass to substitute Joseph Opoku, who navigated past three defenders in the box before coolly placing the ball beyond the CAR goalkeeper.

The late strike ignited jubilant celebrations among the Ghanaian bench, propelling the Black Satellites to a group-stage victory.

With CAR needing a win to progress, they couldn’t muster a comeback in the dying moments, as Ghana skilfully managed the game to claim their second victory of the tournament.

Prior to the match, Ghana knew that a draw would suffice after previously winning 1-0 against Senegal and drawing 1-1 with DR Congo. This triumph ensures Ghana finishes the group stage unbeaten, amassing seven points, while Senegal’s 2-0 victory over DR Congo confirmed both teams’ advancement to the knockout rounds.

After the game, Ghana U20 coach Desmond Ofei commended his team’s composure and strategic discipline.

“This result reflects our patience and tactical discipline. The players demonstrated great maturity today, and we are now eager to face the knockout stage with confidence.”

For CAR, the defeat concluded their journey with just one point from three matches, a stark contrast to their successful quarter-final appearance in 2021.

The Black Satellites remain unbeaten in the group stages for the first time since 2013, as they aspire to secure a record-extending fifth U20 AFCON title. Their next challenge will see them tackle one of the third-placed teams from Groups A or B in the quarter-finals.

The complete line-up for the knockout stages will be announced following the conclusion of the final group matches on Friday.