Ghana national under-20 football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Ghana women's national under-20 football team.

Ghana Under-20

Nickname(s)	The Black Satellites
Association	Ghana Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Desmond Sakyi Ofei
FIFA code	GHA
First colours Second colours
First international
Gambia 1 – 0   Ghana (Banjul, Gambia; 9 September 1984)
Biggest win
Ghana 6 – 0   Mali (Accra, Ghana; 11 November 1990)
Biggest defeat
Algeria 3 – 0   Ghana (Algiers, Algeria; 27 August 1988)   Colombia 4 – 1   Ghana (Le Pontet, France; 29 May 2000)   Argentina 3 – 0   Ghana (Buenos Aires, Argentina; 8 July 2001)
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	10 (first in 1991 )
Best result	Winners (1993, 1999, 2009, 2021)
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Appearances	7 (first in 1993)
Best result	Champions (2009)

Ghana national under-20 football team

Medal record
FIFA U-20 World Cup
	1993 Australia	Team
	2001 Argentina	Team
	2009 Egypt	Team
	2013 Turkey	Team

Ghana national U-20 football team known as the Black Satellites, is considered to be the feeder team for the Ghana national football team. They are the former FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions and U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Champions. They have also been a four-time African Champion in 1995, 1999, 2009, 2021 and a two-time Runner-up at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1993, 2001 and finished third in 2013. Ghana has participated in only six of the past 19 World Cup events starting with their first in Australia 1993 where they lost the World Cup final 1-2 to Brazil in Sydney and in Argentina 2001 where they lost the World Cup final 0-3 to Argentina in Buenos Aires. Incredibly, in 32 FIFA World Cup matches, Ghana has not lost a game in regulation below the Semi Final level of the FIFA U20 World Cup. They however failed to qualify for 3 consecutive events in UAE 2003, Netherlands 2005 and Canada 2007 until they made the Egypt 2009 Tournament.

They won the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt after defeating Brazil 4-3 on Penalties when the match ended (0-0) after extra time. This was the first time an African country won the FIFA U-20 World Cup Championship.

Superb young players

The Black Satellites reached the FIFA U-20 World Cup final in their 1st appearance in Australia 1993 (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. ^[1] They repeated the feat in 2001 succumbing to Tournament Hosts Argentina in the Final. Previously in 1997, they had 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 1-1 tied game.

What makes Ghana's footballers so dominant in their age group? FIFA Magazine ^[2] 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. 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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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. ^[3] Today, many Ghanaian youngsters are in G14 Club Academies in Europe.^{[ citation needed ]}

Competitive Record

FIFA U-20 World Cup Record

Ghana national u-21 team before the friendly match with Bulgarian V AFG side Slivnishki Geroi (1-1), 18-11-2010, Slivnitsa, Bulgaria.

Year	Round	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1977	did not participate
1979
1981
1983	Withdrew
1985	did not qualify
1987	Disqualified
1989	did not qualify
1991
1993	Runners-up	6	3	2	1	11	6
1995	did not qualify
1997	Fourth place	7	4	1	2	12	8
1999	Quarter finals	5	3	2*	0	8	2
2001	Runners-up	7	5	1	1	8	5
2003	did not qualify
2005
2007
2009	Champions	7	5	2*	0	16	8
2011	did not qualify
2013	Third Place	7	4	0	3	16	12
2015	Round of 16	4	2	1	1	5	6
2017	did not qualify
2019
2023
2025	to be determined
Total	7/24	43	26	9	8	76	47

Team honours and awards

FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions: 1 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup Runners-up: 2 1993, 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup Third-place: 1 2013 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Champions: 4 1993, 1999, 2009, 2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up: 2 2001, 2013 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Third-place: 2 1991, 2015 WAFU U-20 Championship Champions: 1 2008 WAFU Zone B U-20 Tournament Champions: 1 2020

FIFA Golden Ball Winners: 2 Tournament FIFA Golden Ball Award Player 2009 Gold Ball Award Dominic Adiyiah 2013 Bronze Ball Award Clifford Aboagye FIFA Golden Shoe Winners: 2 Tournament FIFA Golden Shoe Award 2009 Dominic Adiyiah 2013 Ebenezer Assifuah

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2022 Maurice Revello Tournament.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Club
1	1 GK	Gregory Obeng Sekyere	(2003-12-10)10 December 2003 (aged 18)	Berekum Chelsea
2	2 DF	Augustine Agyapong	(2004-01-21)21 January 2004 (aged 18)	Asante Kotoko
3	2 DF	Bismark Anim	(2004-09-13)13 September 2004 (aged 17)	Tudu Mighty Jets
4	4 FW	Alex Opoku Sarfo	(2004-10-20)20 October 2004 (aged 17)	Benab
5	2 DF	Kwabena Boahen Gogoe	(2004-07-04)4 July 2004 (aged 17)	Dreams
6	3 MF	Mohaison Mahmoud	(2005-04-21)21 April 2005 (aged 17)	United Black
7	3 MF	Collins Boah	(2005-12-24)24 December 2005 (aged 16)	Dreams
8	3 MF	Baafi Amankwah	(2003-08-21)21 August 2003 (aged 18)	Hearts of Oak
9	4 FW	Mohammed Yahaya	(2004-11-10)10 November 2004 (aged 17)	Tamale City
10	4 FW	Emmanuel Annor	(2003-04-29)29 April 2003 (aged 19)	Bechem United
11	4 FW	Zubairu Ibrahim	(2004-06-02)2 June 2004 (aged 17)	King Faisal
12	3 MF	Isaac Pappoe	(2002-02-07)7 February 2002 (aged 20)	Golden Kick
13	2 DF	Moses Bawa	(2004-06-25)25 June 2004 (aged 17)	Baffour Academy
14	3 MF	Abass Samari Salifu	(2004-07-02)2 July 2004 (aged 17)	Accra Lions
15	2 DF	Jonas Adjei Adjetey	(2003-12-13)13 December 2003 (aged 18)	Berekum Chelsea
16	1 GK	Vincent Anane	(2003-08-15)15 August 2003 (aged 18)	Legon Cities
17	4 FW	Mustapha Yakubu	(2005-04-25)25 April 2005 (aged 17)	Heart of Lions
18	3 MF	Isaac Mensah	(2002-02-07)7 February 2002 (aged 20)	Hearts of Oak
19	3 MF	Aaron Essel	(2005-07-30)30 July 2005 (aged 16)	Bechem United
20	3 MF	Abdul Razak Abdullah	(2004-11-03)3 November 2004 (aged 17)	Heart of Lions
21	2 DF	Kelvin Abrefa	(2003-12-09)9 December 2003 (aged 18)	Reading U–23
22	2 DF	Eugene Ampofoh Amankwah	(2004-11-30)30 November 2004 (aged 17)	Benab

Previous squads

• 2015 FIFA under-20 World Cup (squads) – Ghana
• 2009 FIFA under-20 World Cup (squads) – Ghana
• 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

Notable players

The following list consist of previous Ghana U-20 national team players who have won or were influential at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with the Ghana U-20 national team or the FIFA U-17 World Cup with the Ghana U-17 national team, and those who were part of the Ghana U-23 national team that won the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The list also includes the players who have graduated from the Ghana U-20 national team and gone on to represent the senior Ghana national team at the FIFA World Cup or African Cup of Nations:

• Clifford Aboagye (2013)
• Dominic Adiyiah (2009)
• Nii Lamptey (1993)
• André Ayew (2009)
• Daniel Addo (1993)
• Samuel Kuffour (1993)
• Augustine Ahinful (1993)
• Charles Akonnor (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)

Notable coaches

FIFA Tourney	Manager name
2013	Sellas Tetteh
2009	Sellas Tetteh
2001	Emmanuel Akwasi Afranie
1999	Giuseppe Dossena
1997	Francis Oti Akenteng
1993	Fred Osam-Duodu

2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup World Cup Winner Squad

  Ghana

Head coach: Sellas Tetteh

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1 GK	Daniel Adjei	(1989-11-10)10 November 1989 (aged 19)			Liberty
2	2 DF	Samuel Inkoom	(1989-06-01)1 June 1989 (aged 20)			Basel
3	3 MF	Gladson Awako	(1990-12-31)31 December 1990 (aged 18)			Heart of Lions
4	2 DF	Jonathan Mensah	(1990-07-13)13 July 1990 (aged 19)			Free State Stars
5	2 DF	Daniel Addo	(1989-09-03)3 September 1989 (aged 20)			King Faisal
6	2 DF	David Addy	(1990-02-21)21 February 1990 (aged 19)			FC Porto
7	3 MF	Abeiku Quansah	(1990-11-02)2 November 1990 (aged 18)			Nice
8	3 MF	Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu	(1990-12-02)2 December 1990 (aged 18)			Asante Kotoko
9	3 MF	Opoku Agyemang	(1989-06-07)7 June 1989 (aged 20)			Al-Sadd
10	3 MF	André Ayew (c)	(1989-12-17)17 December 1989 (aged 19)			Marseille
11	4 FW	Latif Salifu	(1990-08-01)1 August 1990 (aged 19)			Liberty
12	2 DF	Ghandi Dassenu	(1989-08-09)9 August 1989 (aged 20)			Liberty
13	3 MF	Mohammed Rabiu	(1989-12-31)31 December 1989 (aged 19)			Liberty
14	2 DF	Daniel Opare	(1990-10-18)18 October 1990 (aged 18)			Real Madrid
15	2 DF	Philip Boampong	(1990-01-01)1 January 1990 (aged 19)			Arsenal
16	1 GK	Robert Dabuo	(1990-11-10)10 November 1990 (aged 18)			Wa All Stars
17	2 DF	John Benson	(1991-08-27)27 August 1991 (aged 18)			ASPIRE
18	4 FW	Ransford Osei	(1990-12-05)5 December 1990 (aged 18)			Medeama
19	2 DF	Bright Addae	(1992-12-19)19 December 1992 (aged 16)			Wa All Stars
20	4 FW	Dominic Adiyiah	(1989-11-29)29 November 1989 (aged 19)			Fredrikstad FK
21	1 GK	Joseph Addo	(1990-11-02)2 November 1990 (aged 18)			Sekondi Hasaacas

Head-to-head record

The following table shows Ghana's head-to-head record in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Argentina	3	2	0	1	4	5	−1	066.67
Austria	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	000.00
Brazil	3	1	1	1	3	3	+0	033.33
Chile	1	1	0	0	4	3	+1	100.00
China	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	000.00
Costa Rica	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00
Croatia	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	000.00
Ecuador	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
England	2	2	0	0	6	1	+5	100.00
Egypt	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00
France	3	0	1	2	2	5	−3	000.00
Germany	1	0	1	0	2	2	+0	000.00
Hungary	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1	100.00
Iran	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
Iraq	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	100.00
Japan	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	100.00
Kazakhstan	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	100.00
Mali	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3	000.00
Panama	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
Paraguay	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	100.00
Portugal	2	2	0	0	5	2	+3	100.00
Republic of Ireland	2	1	0	1	3	3	+0	050.00
Russia	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	100.00
South Africa	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	100.00
South Korea	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1	100.00
Spain	2	0	1	1	1	2	−1	000.00
United Arab Emirates	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	100.00
United States	2	2	0	0	5	1	+4	100.00
Uruguay	3	0	2	1	5	6	−1	000.00
Uzbekistan	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	100.00
Total	43	26	9	8	76	47	+29	060.47

See also

• Africa portal
• Association football portal

• Ghana national football team
• Ghana national under-23 football team
• Ghana national under-17 football team

Footnotes

1. "Australia 1993: Brazil make it three". FIFA. 1 September 2001. Archived from the original on 27 June 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2001.
2. "Superb Young Players". FIFA. 1 September 2001. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2001.
3. "Ghana: talented players as far as the eye can see". FIFA. 17 September 2004. Archived from the original on 27 October 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2004.

External links

• 2007 Toulon Tournament Squad
• Ghana Football Association – Official website
• Ghana Premier League website
• Ghanaweb Sports Page
• RSSSF Archive of all FIFA U20 Matches
• RSSSF Archive of all African U20 Matches
• 2009 African U20 Final Highlights

Preceded by 2007 Argentina	World Champions 2009 (First title)	Succeeded by 2011 Brazil
Preceded by 1991 Egypt	African Champions 1993 (First title)	Succeeded by 1995 Cameroon
Preceded by 1997 Morocco	African Champions 1999 (Second title)	Succeeded by 2001 Angola
Preceded by 2007 Congo	African Champions 2009 (Third title)	Succeeded by 2011 Nigeria