Ghana national under-20 football team

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Ghana Under 20

Nickname(s)	The Black Satellites
Association	Ghana Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Sellas Tetteh
Captain	Andre Ayew
FIFA code	GHA
Home colours Away 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)
African Youth Championship
Appearances	7 (First in 1991)
Best result	Winners, 1993, 1999, 2009

Medal record
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Silver	1993 Australia	Team
Silver	2001 Argentina	Team
Gold	2009 Egypt	Team

Ghana national U-20 football team known as the Black Satellites, the current FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions and African Youth Champions, have been a three-time African Champion in 1995, 1999, 2009 and a two-time Runner-up at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1993 and 2001. Ghana has participated in only five of the past 17 World Cup events starting with their first in Australia 1993 where they lost the World Cup final 1-2 to Brazil in Sydney and their most recent 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. The first time an African Country won the FIFA U-20 World Cup Championship.

Contents 1 Superb young players 2 Competitive Record 2.1 FIFA World Youth Championship Record 3 Team honours 4 Current squad 4.1 Recent callups 5 Players called up to the national camp 6 Previous squads 7 Famous Players 7.1 Players with Ghanaian roots 8 Famous Coaches 9 Former (2007) U-20 squad 10 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup World Cup Winner Squad 10.1  Ghana 11 See also 12 External links 13 Footnotes 14 Titles

[edit] 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, but it is the same in Nigeria too - they also won the U-17 title twice. 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.

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.

[edit] Competitive Record

[edit] FIFA World Youth Championship Record

Year	Round	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD
1977	Did not participate	-	-	-	-	-	-
1979	Did not participate	-	-	-	-	-	-
1981	Did not participate	-	-	-	-	-	-
1983	Withdrew	-	-	-	-	-	-
1985	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
1987	Disqualified	-	-	-	-	-	-
1989	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
1991	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
1993	Runners-up	6	3	2	1	11	6	+5
1995	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
1997	Semi finals	7	4	1	2	12	8	+4
1999	Quarter finals	5	3	2*	0	8	2	+6
2001	Runners-up	7	5	1	1	8	5	+3
2003	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
2005	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
2007	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
2009	Champions	7	5	2*	0	16	8	+8
Total	5/17	32	20	8	4	55	29	+26

• Silver background color indicates second place finish at the World Cup.
• Gold background color indicates winners at the World Cup.

*Denote draws including the 2009 Final match decided on penalty kicks v Brazil 4-3p when the match ended (0-0) After Extra Time, and the 1999 Quarter-Final match decided on penalty kicks v Spain (7-8p).

FIFA U20 World Cup Record

FIFA U20 World Cup Record	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
World Cup Finals	32	20	8*	4	55	29	+26
Africa U20 Quals	62	38	13	11	92	41	+51
U20 Total	94	58	21*	15	147	70	+77

FIFA U20 World Cup Record by team

Ghana versus	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
Brazil	3	1	1*	1	3	3	0
Argentina	2	1	0	1	1	3	-2
Republic of Ireland	2	1	0	1	3	3	0
Uruguay	3	0	2	1	5	6	-1
Portugal	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Russia	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3
England	2	2	0	0	6	1	+5
China PR	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
United States	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1
United Arab Emirates	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3
Germany	1	0	1	0	2	2	0
Japan	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1
Croatia	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Kazakhstan	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3
Costa Rica	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Spain	1	0	1*	0	1	1	0
Paraguay	1	1	0	1	2	1	+1
Iran	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1
France	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Ecuador	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1
Egypt	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Uzbekistan	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1
Korea Republic	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1
South Africa	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1
Hungary	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1
Total	32	20	8*	4	55	29	+26

*Denote draws including the 2009 Final match decided on penalty kicks v Brazil 4-3p when the match ended (0-0) After Extra Time, and the 1999 Quarter-Final match decided on penalty kicks v Spain (7-8p).

[edit] Team honours

• FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions: 1
  

2009

• FIFA U-20 World Cup Runners-up: 2
  

1993, 2001

• African Youth Championship Champions: 3
  

1993, 1999, 2009

• African Youth Championship Runners-up: 1
  

2001

[edit] Current squad

Head coach: Sellas Tetteh Appointed on 12 August 2008

Most Recent Squad
Date announced	13 October 2009 [1]
Game(s)	Brazil, 16 October 2009
Venue(s)	Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt
Competition	2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final

Goalkeepers

Name	DOB	Club	Caps (goals)	Debut
Christophe Okumador	August 1, 1994 (1994-08-01) (age 15)	Juventus Turin

Defenders

Name	DOB	Club	Caps (goals)	Debut
Philip Boampong	January 1, 1990 (1990-01-01) (age 20)	Berekum Arsenal
Francis Gyimah	February 5, 1991 (1991-02-05) (age 18)	Hamburger SV
Jonathan Mensah	July 13, 1990 (1990-07-13) (age 19)	Free State Stars
Frederick Owusu	December 24, 1992 (1992-12-24) (age 17)	FC Messina
Michael Osakonor Tetteh	January 16, 1989 (1989-01-16) (age 20)	UCSB Gauchos
Frederick Raymond	May 18, 1989 (1989-05-18) (age 20)	SG Wattenscheid

Midfielders

Name	DOB	Club	Caps (goals)	Debut
Abdul Naza Alhassan	June 18, 1990 (1990-06-18) (age 19)	Shonan Bellmare
Enoch Kofi Adu	September 14, 1990 (1990-09-14) (age 19)	OGC Nice
Ritchie-Sam Anpong	August 21, 1990 (1990-08-21) (age 19)	Helmond Sport
Yusif Abdul Aziz	November 10, 1991 (1991-11-10) (age 18)	Ashanti Gold SC
Wisdom Biyama	May 5, 1993 (1993-05-05) (age 16)	SC Alstertal-Langenhorn
George Cheremeh	June 6, 1993 (1993-06-06) (age 16)	Inter Milan
Rudy Etwi	March 8, 1990 (1990-03-08) (age 19)	FC Volendam
Eugene Frempong	May 8, 1993 (1993-05-08) (age 16)	FC Montebelluna

Strikers

Name	DOB	Club	Caps (goals)	Debut
Michael Amponsah	April 18, 1990 (1990-04-18) (age 19)	Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Francis Boadi	November 23, 1991 (1991-11-23) (age 18)	Great Olympics
Daniel Larbie Coomson		Zaytuna F.C.
Abeiku Quansah	November 2, 1990 (1990-11-02) (age 19)	OGC Nice
Said Ahmed Said	April 20, 1993 (1993-04-20) (age 16)	Inter Milan
Latif Salifu		Liberty Professionals F.C.
Ishmael Yartei	January 11, 1990 (1990-01-11) (age 19)	S.L. Benfica

[edit] Recent callups

The following players have also been called up to the Ghana squad recently:

Name	DOB	Club	Caps (goals)	Debut	Most recent callup
DF Daniel Opare	October 18, 1990 (1990-10-18) (age 19)	Real Madrid	0 (0)	N/A
DF Gladson Awako		Heart of Lions
MF Abdulai Gafaru		Real Tamale United
DF Wakaso Mubarak	July 25, 1990 (1990-07-25) (age 19)	Elche CF	0 (0)	N/A
FW Bernard Kofi Sekyi		Unknown
MF Ekow Benson	April 23, 1989 (1989-04-23) (age 20)	Accra Hearts of Oak SC	0 (0)
FW Ganiu Yahaya		Real Tamale United
DF Gafaru Nashiru		All Stars F.C.
MF Amponsah Blankson		Eagle Giant
FW Khalif Alhassan		Liberty Professionals F.C.
MF Stephen Damalie	January 2, 1990 (1990-01-02) (age 20)	Bechem Chelsea
Hans Kwofie		Heart of Lions
FW Ebo Andoh		Accra Hearts of Oak SC
MF Isaac Paintsil	-	Berekum Berlin F.C.
FW Ben Acheampong		All Blacks F.C.
DF Godfred Rockson		Heart of Lions
MF Eric Opoku		Accra Hearts of Oak SC
DF Richard Aticah	-	Bechem Chelsea
DF Isaac Annan		Birim Stars
MF Michael Tawiah	December 1, 1990 (1990-12-01) (age 19)	Lokomotiv Mezdra

[edit] Players called up to the national camp

Abraham Hoenyedzi (Ken Harrison Babies), David Dadzie (Nungua United), Philip Adu (Maxbees FC), Charles Enterm (Nungua United), Ali Ibrahim (Ali Jaraa Academy), Stephen Owusu Ansah (Ashanti-Gold), Paul Addo (Fairpoint FC), Samuel Ayisi (Seven United), Eric Opoku (Corners Babies), Pero Gwalla (Catholic Stars), Moses Otiboe (International Allies), Aminu Ishmael (Wa All Stars), Enoch Ebo Andoh (Corner Babies), Omar Nuhu Bello (Bofoakwa Tano), William Owusu (Sporting Lisbon) and Alhassan Meisuna, Emmanuel Burkason (Kessben FC), Ben Owusu (Berekum Arsenals), Suraju Ibrahim (Wa All Stars), Adu Kofi (Corners Babies), Sulley Issaka (Chicago Babies), Nathaniel Asamoah (Subway FC), Imoro Adams (Semeraka FC), Eric Mensah (Nikwab Professionals) and Kelvin Owusu Bossman (Reading FC), David Addotey (Jen FC), Nana Yaw Sarfo (AshGold Stars), Abraham Fuseini (Wa All Stars), Francis Nanabayin (Todd Babies), Kwadwo Amofa (Staling Academy). [2]

[edit] Previous squads

• 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

[edit] Famous Players

Dominic Adiyiah(2009) Nii Lamptey(1993) Andre Ayew (2009) Ben Owu(1993) 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)

[edit] Players with Ghanaian roots

Stanley Aborah Jnr Freddy Adu Dickson Agyeman Kwame Amoateng Nathan Peprah Annan Godwin Antwi Prince Asubonteng

Nana Attakora-Gyan George Boateng Jérôme Boateng Kevin-Prince Boateng Riga Mustapha Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe

Ofori Sarkodie Mario Balotelli Richmond Rak Osei Sankofa Jeffrey Sarpong Sebastian Svärd Charles Takyi Alexander Tettey

[edit] Famous Coaches

FIFA Tourney Manager name 2008 - present Sellas Tetteh 2001 Emmanuel Akwasi Afranie 1999 Giuseppe Dossena 1997 Francis Oti Akenteng 1993 Fred Osam-Duodu

[edit] Former (2007) U-20 squad

Squad for the Toulon Tournament in France from May 31 - 9 June 2007.

• GK 1 Patrick Antwi - Liberty Professionals
• GK 16 Isaac Ackon - Gamba All Blacks
• DF 2 John Boye - Heart of Lions
• DF 4 Louis Quainoo - Tema Youth
• DF 5 Hannan Giwah - Real Tamale United
• DF 6 Samuel Enzemoba - Real Sportive
• DF 7 Solomon Addy - Ashanti Gold
• MF 8 Mubarak Wakaso - Elche CF
• MF 11 Alhaji Sani - Ashanti Gold
• MF 14 Mohammed-Awal Issah - Real Sportive
• MF 15 Yahaya Mohamed - Tema Youth
• MF 17 Samad Oppong - King Faisal Babes
• MF 18 Seidu Yahaya - PAOK FC
• MF 19 Yaw Frimpong - Feyenoord Academy Ghana
• FW 3 Felix Baffoe - Liberty Professionals
• FW 10 Eric Bekoe (Captain) - Asante Kotoko
• FW 9 Emmanuel Clottey - Odense Boldklub
• LWF 12 Douglas Nkrumah - Asante Kotoko
• RWF 13 Ekow Benson - Hearts of Oak
• FW 20 Bradley Hudson-Odoi - Hereford United F.C.

This team was eliminated 4-3 on penalty kicks by Burkina Faso after a 1-1 aggregate tie in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup African Qualifiers on 22 October 2006.

[edit] 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup World Cup Winner Squad

[edit]  Ghana

Head coach: Sellas Tetteh

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

[edit] See also

• Ghana national football team
• Ghana national U23 football team
• Ghana national U17 football team

[edit] External links

• 2007 Toulon Tournament Squad
• Ghana Football Association - Official website
• Ghana Football Forum - Official Fan Forum
• 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

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] Titles

Preceded by 2007 Argentina	World Champions 2009 (First title)	Succeeded by Incumbent
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 Incumbent

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