Jerry Afriyie scored a decisive second-half penalty to secure Ghana’s thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Côte d’Ivoire in the semi-final of the WAFU B U20 Championship on Sunday, October 27, 2024.
The match began poorly for the Black Satellites, with Konan Loukou giving the Ivorians an early lead. However, Ghana managed to equalize before halftime with a deflected goal from a corner kick.
Afriyie, the tournament’s top scorer with four goals, calmly converted a brilliant penalty early in the second half, completing the comeback. Desmond Ofei’s team defended their lead to seal the win and advance to the final.
With this victory, Ghana has secured a spot in the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The Black Satellites will be making a return to the AFCON Championship next year after winning the title in 2021 under Abdul Karim Zito.
The WAFU B U20 Championship acts as the qualification pathway for the 2025 U20 AFCON, with only the finalists earning a place.
The 2025 U20 AFCON will also serve as the African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, with the top four teams securing automatic qualification.
Source: Modern Ghana
