The Ghana Black Satellites sealed a commanding 1-0 victory over the Central African Republic (CAR) in their final Group C match at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Thursday, May 8, 2025, to finish top of the group with seven points.
The result confirmed Ghana’s status as the most dominant side in the group stage of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, with Coach Desmond Ofei making five key changes from the squad that beat Senegal earlier in the week.
Ofori McCarthy, Emmanuel Mensah, Denis Marfo, Joseph Amankwaah, and Jerry Afriyie — who has since left for Spain to rejoin his club — were replaced by Ishmael Addo, Andrews Adjabeng, Maxwell Azafokpe, Abdul Sulemana, and Joseph Aidoo in the starting lineup.
From the onset, Ghana dictated the pace, pushing CAR back with sustained pressure and fluid build-up play. However, wasteful finishing and a resilient CAR defense delayed the opener.
The decisive moment came in the 84th minute when substitute Joseph Opoku calmly slotted home after being played through by a precise pass from Joseph Aidoo, sealing a deserved win for the Black Satellites.
This win not only ensures Ghana’s qualification to the quarterfinals but also underscores their title credentials in the ongoing U-20 AFCON.
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