Mohammed Zaidan was named Man of the Match for the second game in a row as Ghana’s Black Satellites were eliminated from the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship after a goalless draw with Togo yesterday.
The midfielder again produced an influential display at the centre of Ghana’s team, helping to dictate the tempo through his composure, energy and intelligent passing. His contribution earned him a second successive individual award, although it could not prevent the Black Satellites from bowing out at the group stage.
Zaidan had previously received the Man of the Match accolade after Ghana’s Group B meeting with Burkina Faso. The Black Satellites recovered to draw that match 1-1 despite spending a significant portion of the contest with 10 players.
His performances against Burkina Faso and Togo provided two of the few positive moments in a campaign that ended without a victory for Ghana. The goalless result against Togo confirmed the team’s departure from the competition at the group stage.
Ghana’s failure to progress will be disappointing for the squad and technical team, but the tournament gave the young players important experience against some of the leading youth sides in the West African sub-region.
The Black Satellites showed resilience and determination during their campaign, while also offering signs of attacking promise despite being unable to secure a win. Their response against Burkina Faso, in particular, demonstrated their ability to fight back in difficult circumstances after being reduced to 10 men.
For Zaidan, the consecutive awards underlined his consistency throughout the tournament. His performances are expected to strengthen his reputation as one of Ghana’s promising young midfielders as the technical team looks ahead to future assignments.
The next major target includes the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which Ghana will host. Zaidan’s displays in the WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship could help him remain part of the country’s plans as preparations continue for that tournament.
Although Ghana’s campaign ended earlier than intended, Zaidan’s individual impact offered encouragement for the future. His ability to control midfield play, maintain his work rate and distribute the ball effectively made him a standout performer in both of the Black Satellites’ final group matches.
