Black Satellites are one win away from winning an AFCON U-20 berth.

Ghana’s U-20 national team, the Black Satellites, took another crucial step towards qualifying for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against host nation Togo in the WAFU U-20 Zone B Championship.

The ongoing WAFU Zone B tournament serves as a qualifier for West African teams aiming to secure a spot in the U-20 AFCON. Eight teams are divided into two groups, and the finalists will automatically qualify for the continental tournament, which also doubles as a qualification path for the U-20 World Cup.

In the match against Togo, the Black Satellites struck early, with forward Jerry Afriyie netting his third goal of the tournament just two minutes into the game. Ghana maintained a strong defensive performance throughout the first half, stifling Togo’s attempts to equalize and heading into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

However, Togo came out determined after the break and managed to level the score, bringing the game to a tense 1-1. Despite Togo’s efforts to push for a winner, the Black Satellites held firm, securing a valuable point that propelled them to the top of Group A with five points, having recorded one win and two draws.

Ghana now awaits the conclusion of Group B, where Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso are battling for semi-final spots. A victory in the semi-finals would secure the Black Satellites’ qualification for the U-20 AFCON for the first time since 2021. The team also hopes to use the tournament as a springboard to qualify for their first U-20 World Cup since 2015.