Jerry Afriyie returns for Ghana’s U-20 AFCON quarterfinal clash against Egypt
- Adamu Muftawu
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
Ghana under-20 national team head coach Desmond Ofei can heave a sigh of relief following the return of star forward Jerry Afriyie.
The striker has rejoined the Black Satellites camp in Egypt ahead of the team’s highly anticipated quarterfinal clash against hosts Egypt on Monday at the ongoing 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Afriyie had temporarily departed the Ghana camp on Tuesday to honour club duties with his Spanish side, CD Lugo—an arrangement agreed upon between the Ghana Football Association and the club prior to the start of the tournament. Afriyie returned for international duty after his appearance for CD Lugo.
The 19-year-old attacker played in two of Ghana’s group stage matches, featuring as a substitute against DR Congo before playing the entire match in the 1-0 victory against defending champions Senegal.
A win on Monday not only secures a spot in the semifinals of the tournament but also guarantees qualification to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Coach Desmond Ofei welcomed Afriyie’s return, saying: “Jerry is a key part of our attacking setup. We understand the importance of his club commitments, and we’re thankful to CD Lujo for their understanding and collaboration. His return gives us a boost at just the right time.”
Afriyie himself has expressed excitement to be back with his teammates and is focused on helping Ghana reach the next stage. "It feels good to be back. The job isn’t done, and we all know what this next game means to us, to our fans, and to our country.”
