BY Issah Olegor
Ghana’s Black Satellites have wrapped up preparations for their final Group B fixture against Togo at the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship, with head coach Maxwell Konadu determined to see his side end the tournament on a positive note despite missing out on qualification for the knockout stage.
The national U-20 team held its final training session on Saturday in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, where the technical team focused on tactical organisation, attacking patterns and finishing exercises ahead of Sunday’s encounter at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
Konadu supervised an intensive session designed to sharpen the squad as Ghana seeks its first victory of the regional championship after a difficult start to the campaign.
The Black Satellites opened the tournament with a disappointing 4-2 defeat to defending champions Nigeria before showing resilience in their second outing to earn a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso. Ghana battled for much of that game with 10 men but displayed determination to secure a valuable point.
Although the results mean the Black Satellites can no longer progress beyond the group stage, the technical team remains focused on ending the competition with a victory that would provide a morale boost ahead of future assignments.
Konadu is expected to rotate his squad against Togo, giving opportunities to players who have had limited playing time during the tournament while maintaining a competitive team capable of claiming all three points.
Despite the disappointing campaign, the WAFU B Championship has served an important purpose in Ghana’s long-term plans. The competition has provided the coaching staff with a valuable opportunity to assess the squad under competitive conditions as preparations continue for the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana has already secured automatic qualification for the continental tournament as hosts, allowing the Black Satellites to use the regional championship as part of their build-up for next year’s competition.
The technical team has also used the tournament to strengthen tactical understanding, improve team chemistry and evaluate individual performances as they begin shaping the squad that will represent Ghana on home soil.
