By Dom Agbakpe,
The National Male U-20 football team, Black Satellites enjoyed a 2-0 win in their rescheduled Group B opener against Burkina Faso in the ongoing Total 2019 African Youth Championship in Niamey, Niger.
The match, played at the Maradi Stadium saw Ghana scored in either side of the break through WAFA forward, Daniel Lomotey.
The Black Satellites started the game on a good note, controlling and dominating possession. They had the chance to open the scoring on 32 minutes as Enoch Agyei powerful left-footed shot went wide. Burkina Faso came into the party, swings one or two passess together and had the best chance of the game but Dianda’s shot flew past Ghana’s post.
Five minutes to half-time, WAFA’s forward, Daniel Lomotey puts Ghana ahead when he lifted the ball over goalkeeper’s Traore after he received a long pass from shot-stopper Nurudeen Manaf.
Back from recess, Burkina Faso pushed, probed and created some decent chances but were unable to finish them off. Daniel Lomotey again pushed Burkina Faso when he lobbed the ball over Traore after they failed to clear their lines and doubled Ghana’s lead.
On 84 minute, shot-stopper Nurudeen Manaf made an excellent save to deny a Cheik and Burkina Faso, a goal. Ghana held on to their lead and claim all three points.
Ghana joins Senegal in Group B with three points each and will now face each other on Wednesday, Feb 6 at the same venue at 15:30GMT.
Ghana Starting XI:
Manaf Nurudeen, Maxwell Arthur, Muntari Kamaheni, Gideon Mensah, Issahaku Konda, Sabat Abdulai, Saddiq Ibrahim, Emmanuel Kumah, Daniel Lomotey, Kudus Mohammed, Enoch Atta Agyei.
