U-20 AFCON: Mensah outlines Ghana ambitions after Senegal win

Photo Credit - Ghana Football Association.

Ghana’s hope of reaching the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals were revived following a slim but important 1-0 victory over defending champions Senegal.

The Black Satellites had drawn 1-1 in their opening game against DR Congo and needed a win to improve their quarter-final qualification chances, which they executed despite struggling for possession against the Young Teranga Lions.

Emmanuel Mensah’s first-half goal gave the 2009 FIFA World Cup winners all three points to go level on four points with DR Congo, who beat Central African Republic 3-1 in Group C.

Speaking after the win against the defending champions, Mensah, who was named the Man of the Match, said: "We prepared very well. In the first game, we didn't take our chances, so we worked on our attacking.

"Our mission is to qualify for the World Cup, that is our mission and definitely to win the AFCON," added.

History backs the West African nation, having swept the board in 2009, when they won WAFU ZONE B and the Africa tournament in Nigeria and Rwanda, before capturing the World Cup in Egypt by beating Brazil in a penalty shoot-out.

Ghana will wrap up the group stage against the Central African Republic on Thursday in Ismailia. A win or draw could seal the Satellites’ spot in the quarter-finals.