Ghana U20 - Zambia U20 Preview: Junior Chipolopolo hoping to bounce back

Ghana U20 team will seal their semi-final place and a World Cup berth if they beat their Zambian counterparts on Thursday in the second round of group matches at the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal.

The Black Satellites defeated the Amajita of South Africa 2-0 in their opening match at the Stade Caroline Faye in M’Bour on Monday to top Group B.

Zambia, on the other hand, succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Mali, leaving them with no option than to beat Ghana.

Zambia head coach Hector Chilombo has vowed to stop Ghana after they stumbled against Mali.

“Being the first game, I would have liked to win, but we lost. We played well and did not create a lot of chances. We lost but we are not out. I ‘m happy for my boys because they have shown they can improve. We will remain focus and work harder in the next game. We have to recover and win our next game against Ghana. The tournament is on and we will fight on,” the 46-year-old told Cafonline.

Chilombo’s side are sweating on the fitness of captain Lubambo Musonda, who sustained an injury in Monday’s game against Mali.

Meanwhile, skipper of the Black Satellites Owusu Bempah has been passed fit to feature in tomorrow’s game. The Hearts of Oak defender also picked up an injury in the first game, but his availability gives coach Sellas Tetteh some respite.

Tetteh has indicated that he is bent on winning the title again after leading Ghana to sweep the 2009 edition. He is still the only coach to have led an African side to win the Fifa U20 World Cup, having guided the Black Satellites to lift the crown in Egypt in 2009.

Tetteh told Ghana FA’s official website that his boys would not underrate the Zambians.

“We watched them and we know they are a strong and very physical side but that cannot only be their true picture because they could change at any given time,” the 58-year-old said.

Ghana can count on the experience of Clifford Aboagye who won the Adidas Bronze Ball award at the 2013 Fifa U20 World Cup in Turkey. Also in the set-up is Asiedu Attobrah, who was part of the Black Stars team that won silver at the 2014 CHAN tournament in South Africa.

Ghana are chasing a fourth continental title after triumphing in the 1993, 1999 and 2009 editions.