WAFU U-20: Ghana coach Desmond Ofei still reeling in shock after Ivory Coast loss

Head coach of Ghana’s U-20 Desmond Ofei is still reeling in shock following their loss to Ivory Coast in the quarter finals of the WAFU U-20 ZONE B Championship on home soil.

The Black Satellites suffered a 2-1 loss against the Young Elephants at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence – a dream that shattered their dream of hosting and winning the tournament.

Ofei told the media after the game: “It’s hard to explain because we thought that the boys were ready for the game, we started really well because we knew how good Ivory Coast were going to be.

“We knew how good their individual talents were going to be, we worked through them so we knew what they could do. We started well but I don’t know, it’s hard to explain now, I have to watch the game again a couple of times.

“I feel that we gave the game away [the] unfortunate way, the penalty, it was unnecessary. After that 1-1 we had a big opportunity to make it 2-1 [but] we missed it and then we started to lose grip of the game.

“So a difficult game and congratulations to Ivory Coast, they got the win and so we have to learn quickly and I am proud of the boys despite that we didn’t win, they gave everything [but] in the end it wasn’t enough.”

Ghana will now face Niger in the third place playoff at the Legon Sports Stadium. Niger lost to Nigeria via the penalty shootouts at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence.