Coach E. K. Afranie and his national under-20 charges would have to work harder if they are to make any serious impact on the up-coming African Under-20 Championship in Ethiopia next month.

This reality hit hard on the Black Satellites on Wednesday when they lost 0-1 to their Egyptian counterparts in the second match of their two-leg friendlies at the Accra Stadium.

Having won the first match 2-1 last Sunday, the Satellites were expected to maintain their dominance over the Young Pharaohs but rather put up a disappointing performance with several of them playing like thespians and not players being prepared for a competition in a few weeks time.

It was Sulley Muntari who showed some traces of brilliance on an afternoon which saw the Young Pharaohs playing a well-knit and cohesive game.

Their swiftness on the ball and technical toughness was evident from the start of the game as they made some intelligent runs into the Ghanaian half, putting the Satellites defence under intense pressure but squandering several of the chances.

In the 11th minute, time wasting Satellites’ goalie, George Owu, gave the Egyptians an indirect freekick in the box for Abdel Wahed to expertly convert after receiving a pass from Abou Gerisha to give his side the opener.

The Satellites came close to equalising in the 29th minute but Sulley Muntari’s carpet shot across goal found none of his colleagues to connect.

The second half saw a bit of improved Satellites but it was again Muntari who showed enough efforts in the Ghanaians' attempt to find an equaliser.

In one of his adventures upfront in the 82nd, the Academicals midfielder found his curly shot in front of goal caress the crossbar to end the match in favour of the Young Pharaohs.