Head coach of Ghana’s U-20 national team, Desmond Ofei, has stressed the importance of his side’s upcoming group stage clash against the Central African Republic (CAR), calling it a must-win encounter as the Black Satellites aim to seal their place in the next round of the 2025 U-20 AFCON.

Speaking ahead of the decisive tie, Ofei highlighted the stakes, saying:

“We need a good result to guarantee qualification. This is like a final for us, and we are treating it with the urgency it deserves.”

Despite Ghana’s promising position in the group, the coach warned against complacency and praised CAR for their tenacity and unpredictability.

“We can’t afford to be complacent against a hard-working side like CAR. They’ve shown they can hurt teams, so we must remain focused and composed.”

Ghana will be counting on key players such as captain Michael Antwi and attacking talents who have already made a mark in the tournament. The team has shown flashes of brilliance so far, but Ofei insists that maturity, discipline, and sharpness will be key if they are to overcome the Central African side.

A victory in the upcoming fixture would send a strong message to the rest of the competition that the Black Satellites are serious contenders for the title.