From Veronica Commey, GNA correspondent in Egypt, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports

Ismailia, Oct 6, GNA - South African coach, Serema Letsoaka, said Ghana's Black Satellites strength depended on fitness after the African Champions edged out the Amajitas in a 2-1 thrilling knockout game played at the Ismailia Stadium.

The Amajitas relinquished an early lead to exit the competition that pieces together 24 countries and Coach Letsoaka insisted Ghana's fitness and physical edge gave them the game the Satellites laboured throughout.

Coach Letsoaka told the GNA Sports that the Satellites trump card that was capable of propelling them to the epoch of the tourney, which Ghana was considered as a favourite.

"Ghana's fitness and physical condition is at a point where they are able to compete at any level and their fighting spirit and determination to fight back will take them all the way." Coach Letsoaka said his side thought they had the game sealed when they scored first in 58 minutes and "we refused to go to party as some point by playing only periodically and allowing Ghana to dominate whenever we went to sleep."

He said his confidence was deflated when skipper Andre Ayew pulled Ghana even eight minutes after the hour and insisted that the Amajitas wasted too many chances that could have sent them ahead again even after the equalizer.

Both teams were meeting for the third time in 10 months and Coach Letsoaka believed that soon, the South Africans would ripe the fruit of their four-year labour when they meet Ghana in future.

The African Champions had a torrid time against a South African team that was peaking at the right time in the tournament but held on to set up a date with Korea Republic in quarterfinals in Suez on Friday.