Ghana’s U-20 men’s national team, the Black Satellites, suffered a 2-1 defeat to Zambia’s U-20 side at the Tolip Gardens Sports Complex ahead of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
The match, played behind closed doors, served as a critical test for both teams as they fine-tune their strategies for the tournament, which kicks off on April 27 and runs until May 18, 2025, in Egypt.
The Black Satellites, under the guidance of head coach Desmond Ofei, faced an early setback when Zambia’s Pascal Phiri, a standout from ZESCO United, dazzled with a solo effort to open the scoring in the 21st minute.
Phiri’s goal showcased his individual brilliance, slicing through Ghana’s defence to give the Junior Chipolopolo a 1-0 lead.
Despite the early deficit, Ghana regrouped and showed resilience in the second half.
In the 54th minute, Aziz Yeti Mizbawu levelled the score at 1-1, capitalising on a well-executed move to restore hope for the Black Satellites.
However, Zambia regained the lead in the dying moments of the match.
David Simukonda, netted the winning goal in the 90th minute, securing a 2-1 victory for Zambia and exposing defensive lapses that Ofei will need to address before the tournament begins.
Zambia’s goalkeeper, Levison Banda, also played a pivotal role, anchoring a solid defensive unit that held firm against Ghana’s late pushes.
This friendly was a crucial part of Ghana’s preparation for their Group C campaign at the U-20 AFCON, where they will face D.R. Congo on May 2, defending champions Senegal on May 5, and the Central African Republic on May 8, all in Suez, Egypt. The Black Satellites are aiming to reclaim the U-20 AFCON title, which they last won in 2021 under coach Abdul Karim Zito, and secure one of the four qualification spots for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
