Ghana national under-20 football team

Infobox National football team
Name = Ghana Under 20
Badge =
FIFA Trigramme = GHA
Nickname = The Black Satellites
Association = Ghana Football Association
Confederation = CAF (Africa)
Coach = flagicon|Ghana Francis Oti Akenteng
Captain = Eric Bekoe
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=|leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=FFFFFF
pattern_la2=_yellowshoulders|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=_yellowshoulders|leftarm2=FF0000|body2=FF0000|rightarm2=FF0000|shorts2=FF0000|socks2=FF0000
First game = fb|Gambia 1 - 0 fb|Ghana (Banjul, Gambia; 9 September, 1984)
Largest win = fb|Ghana 6 - 0 fb|Mali (Accra, Ghana; 11 November, 1990)
Largest loss = fb|Algeria 3 - 0 fb|Ghana (Algiers, Algeria; 27 August, 1988) fb|Colombia 4 - 1 fb|Ghana (Le Pontet, France; 29 May, 2000) fb|Argentina 3 - 0 fb|Ghana (Buenos Aires, Argentina; 8 July, 2001)
Regional name = FIFA U-20 World Cup
Regional cup apps = 4
Regional cup first = 1993
Regional cup best = Runner-up, 1993, 2001
Regional name = African Youth Championship
Regional cup apps = 6
Regional cup first = 1991
Regional cup best = Winners, 1995, 1999

Ghana national U-20 football team known as the "Black Satellites" has been a two-time African Champion in 1995 and 1999 and a two-time Runner-up at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1993 and 2001. Ghana has participated in only four of the 16 World Cup events starting with their first in Australia 1993 where they [http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=191252/matches/match=30920/report.html lost the World Cup final 1-2] to Brazil in Sydney and their most recent in Argentina 2001 where they [http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=4295/matches/match=24264/report.html lost the World Cup final 0-3] to Argentina in Buenos Aires. Incredibly, in 25 FIFA World Cup matches, Ghana has not lost a game in regulation below the Semi Final level of the U20 World Cup.

They have however failed to qualify for the past 3 events in UAE 2003, Netherlands 2005 and Canada 2007.

uperb young players

The "Black Satellites" reached the FIFA U-20 World Cup final in their 1st appearance in [http://access.fifa.com/documents/static/development/WYC_93_TR_part4.pdf. Australia 1993] ( [http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:n6nfxnbVyK8J:access.fifa.com/documents/static/development/WYC_93_TR_part4.pdf+FIFA+u-20+silver+ball+lamptey&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2 Australia 1993 U-20 html Stats here] ), catching many teams on the hop with their lightning changes of pace. In fact, nine of the 22 players in the "Black Satellites'" squad had lifted the FIFA U-17 World Championship two years earlier, so their performance could only really be considered a half-surprise. Still they were a joy to watch: enterprising and unpredictable [cite news | date=2001-09-01 | url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=191252/overview.html | title=Australia 1993: Brazil make it three | publisher=fifa.com | accessdate=2001-09-01] . They repeated the feat in 2001 succumbing to Tournament Hosts Argentina in the Final. Previously in 1997, they had [http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=191276/matches/match=31021/report.html lost 3-2] on a golden goal to Uruguay in Extra Time of the World Cup Semi Final. In 1999 eventual Champions Spain eliminated Ghana in the Quarter Final on sudden death penalty kicks after a [http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=191313/matches/match=31072/report.html 1-1 tied] game.

"What makes Ghana's footballers so dominant in their age group?" FIFA Magazine [cite news | date=2001-09-01 | url=http://www.fifa.com/en/development/technical/index/0,1250,9630,00.html?articleid=9630 | title="Superb Young Players" | publisher=fifa.com | accessdate=2001-09-01] asked Otto Pfister. Football is not simply the most popular sport in this part of Africa, it is an absolute religion, he said. This is the way the game is regarded in Ghana, but it is the same in Nigeria too - they also won the U-17 title twice. Young boys here think about football 24 hours a day and play for at least eight - whether on clay, rough fields or dusty streets. They develop their skills naturally, without any specific training, and end up with superb technique and ability on the ball. They are also fast and tricky, and can feint well with their bodies. Africa and South America have by far the best young footballers in the world - on a technical level they are superb. And technique is what it takes to make a good player. "What else goes towards making Ghana so strong?" Otto Pfister continues; In Africa there is often only one way for many young lads to escape from poverty and to make their way up the social scale - football. Youngsters want to become stars and to play in a top European league. That is their main aim and they will do anything to achieve it. Let me give you an example: While I was coaching in Ghana I once told my team to be ready for training at three o'clock in the morning. At half past two they were all assembled and ready to go. They want to learn and they want to play for the national team. They know that in their country a national team player is a hero and enjoys a level of prestige that is not comparable to that in Europe. Another positive point for young players in Ghana is that there are many good coaches in the country who help develop the available talent and above all want to let them play. This policy pays off. [cite news | date=2004-09-17 | url=http://www.fifa.com/en/organisation/index/0,1521,9581,00.html?articleid=9581 | title="Ghana: talented players as far as the eye can see" | publisher=fifa.com | accessdate=2004-09-17] . Today, many Ghanaian youngsters are in G14 Club Academies in Europe.

Competitive Record

FIFA World Youth Championship Record

"*Denotes draws including the 1999 [http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=191313/matches/match=31072/report.html Quarter-Final] match

decided on penalty kicks v Spain (7-8p)."

Team honours

*sport honours|FIFA World Youth Championship runners-up|2|1993, 2001

*sport honours|African Youth Championship|2|1993, 1999

*sport honours|African Youth Championship runners-up|1|2001

Current (2007) U-20 squad

Squad for the Toulon Youth Festival in France from May 31 - 9 June 2007.
*GK "1" Patrick Antwi - flagicon|Ghana Liberty Professionals
*GK "16" Isaac Ackon - flagicon|Ghana Gamba All Blacks
*DF "2" John Boye - flagicon|Ghana Heart of Lions
*DF "4" Louis Quainoo - flagicon|Ghana Tema Youth
*DF "5" Hannan Giwah - flagicon|Ghana Real Tamale United
*DF "6" Samuel Enzemoba - flagicon|Ghana Real Sportive
*DF "7" Solomon Addy - flagicon|Ghana Ashanti Gold
*MF "8" Mubarak Wakaso - flagicon|Spain Elche CF
*MF "11" Alhaji Sani - flagicon|Ghana Ashanti Gold
*MF "14" Issah Awal - flagicon|Ghana Real Sportive
*MF "15" Yahaya Mohamed - flagicon|Ghana Tema Youth
*MF "17" Samed Oppong - flagicon|Ghana King Faisal Babes
*MF "18" Yahaya Seidu - flagicon|Greece PAOK FC
*MF "19" Yaw Frimpong - flagicon|Ghana Feyenoord Academy Ghana
*FW "3" Felix Baffoe - flagicon|Ghana Liberty Professionals
*FW "10" Eric Bekoe (Captain) - flagicon|Ghana Asante Kotoko
*FW "9" Emmanuel Clottey - flagicon|Denmark Odense Boldklub
*LWF "12" Douglas Nkrumah - flagicon|Ghana Asante Kotoko
*RWF "13" Ekow Benson - flagicon|Ghana Hearts of Oak
*FW "20" Bradley Hudson-Odoi - flagicon|England Fulham F.C.

This team was eliminated 4-3 on penalty kicks by Burkina Faso after a 1-1 aggregate tie in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup African Qualifiers on 22 October, 2006.

Previous squads

*2001 FIFA under-20 World Cup (squads) - Ghana
*1999 FIFA under-20 World Cup (squads) - Ghana
*1997 FIFA under-20 World Cup (squads) - Ghana
*1993 FIFA under-20 World Cup (squads) - Ghana

Famous Players

*Nii Lamptey(1993)
*Ben Owu(1993)
*Daniel Addo(1993)
*Samuel Kuffour(1993)
*Augustine Ahinful(1993)
*Charles Akunnor(1993)
*Emmanuel Duah(1993)
*Isaac Asare(1993)
*Mohammed Gargo(1993)
*Christian Gyan(1997)
*Awudu Issaka(1997)
*Kofi Amponsah(1997)
*Stephen Appiah(1997, 1999)
*Peter Ofori Quaye(1997, 1999)
*Patrick Allotey(1997)
*Baffour Gyan(1999)
*Laryea Kingston(1999)
*George Blay(1999)
*Owusu Afriyie(1999)
*Michael Essien(2001)
*Sulley Muntari(2001)
*Anthony Obodai(2001)
*John Mensah(2001)
*John Paintsil(2001)
*Derek Boateng(2001)
*Emmanuel Pappoe(2001)
*Razak Pimpong(2001)
*George Owu(2001)

Players with Ghanaian roots

*flagicon|Belgium Stanley Aborah Jnr
*flagicon|United States Freddy Adu
*flagicon|Belgium Dickson Agyemang
*flagicon|Sweden Kwame Amoateng
*flagicon|England Nathan Peprah Annan
*flagicon|Spain Godwin Antwi
*flagicon|Belgium Prince Asubonteng
*flagicon|Canada Nana Attakora-Gyan
*flagicon|Netherlands George Boateng
*flagicon|Germany Jérôme Boateng
*flagicon|Germany Kevin-Prince Boateng
*flagicon|Netherlands Riga Mustapha
*flagicon|Belgium Vadis Odjidja Ofoe
*flagicon|United States Ofori Sarkodie
*flagicon|Italy Mario Balotelli
*flagicon|Switzerland Richmond Rak
*flagicon|England Osei Sankofa
*flagicon|Netherlands Jeffrey Sarpong
*flagicon|Denmark Sebastian Svärd
*flagicon|Germany Charles Takyi
*flagicon|Norway Alexander Tettey

Famous Coaches

ee also

*Ghana national football team
*Ghana national U23 football team
*Ghana national U17 football team

External links

* [http://www.festival-foot-espoirs.com/festival-foot-espoirs/list-festival-foot.php?ID_nation=6&menu=festival 2007 Toulon Tournament Squad]
* [http://www.ghanafa.org/ Ghana Football Association] - Official website
* [http://discussions.ghanaweb.com/viewforum.php?f=2/ Ghana Football Forum] - Official Fan Forum
* [http://www.ghanaleague.com/ Ghana Premier League website]
* [http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/ Ghanaweb Sports Page]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesw/wycall.html RSSSF Archive of all FIFA U20 Matches]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/afr-u21.html RSSSF Archive of all African U20 Matches]

Footnotes