Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has urged the national U-20 team, the Black Satellites, to approach the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with unwavering concentration as they gear up for their tournament debut.
Ghana has been placed in Group C and will kick off their campaign this evening against DR Congo at the New Suez Stadium, with the match scheduled to begin at 18:00 GMT.
In an interview with Channel One TV, Agyemang-Badu — a key figure in Ghana’s historic U-20 World Cup triumph and a member of the 2014 World Cup squad — acknowledged the difficulty of the group and highlighted the importance of starting strong.
“We’re in a very competitive group,” he said. “DR Congo is no pushover, and the Central African Republic is also capable of surprising any team. Every match counts, especially the first one. Staying mentally sharp will be key.”
He also pointed to the increasing visibility and significance of youth-level competitions, calling for greater recognition and investment in them.
“Youth tournaments are gaining more attention, and it’s about time we gave them the value and support they truly deserve,” Agyemang-Badu remarked.
After their clash with DR Congo, the Black Satellites will face the Central African Republic before wrapping up the group stage against Senegal, with hopes of advancing to the knockout phase.
