Ghana’s Black Satellites will be aiming to seal qualification to the knockout stages of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations when they face the Central African Republic in their final Group C match.
With four points from two games, Ghana currently sit second in the group standings and need at least a draw to progress.
However, the stakes are even higher for CAR, who must win to have any hope of advancing to the next round.
This fixture marks Ghana’s second encounter with Central African opposition at the tournament, having opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
Historically, it’s been a tight contest for the Satellites against teams from the region as their last three matches against Central African sides have all ended in 1-1 draws.
CAR also shared the spoils with group leaders Senegal in a 1-1 draw but will need to overcome their patchy track record against West African opponents.
They suffered 3-1 defeat by Burkina Faso and 3-0 loss to Gambia in the 2021 edition of the competition.
Despite holding the upper hand, Ghana head coach Desmond Ofei is warning against complacency.
“We can’t afford to be complacent against a hardworking side like CAR. They’ve shown they can hurt teams, so we must remain focused and composed,” he said.
The outcome of this clash will be decisive in shaping Group C’s final standings, with all eyes on whether the Black Satellites can take the next step toward continental glory.
