It’s a make or break affair for both Ghana and Cameroon as the two sides lock horns in the first quarter final of the U-20 AFCON currently ongoing in Mauritania.
High-Flying Cameroon will take on a stuttering Ghana side on Thursday at the Stade Olympique in Nouakchott in what is expected to be an explosive clash.
The Black Satellites of Ghana are playing in their 12th AFCON Under-20 tournament and are seeking their fourth title and a first since 2009.
For Cameroon this is their 10th tournament with the Young Indomitable Lions seeking a second trophy and a first in 26 years.
Cameroon made it to this stage of the competition as the only participating team with an unblemished record. They have a 100% record from their group stage matches; winning all 3 games.
Among their vanquished opponents are hosts Mauritania, Uganda and Mozambique. Overall they amassed 9 points.
Cameroon also have the second best defense as they allowed just one goal. This came in their last group game when then dispatched Mozambique 4-1.
Ghana’s Black Satellites on the other end after a disappointing defeat to Gambia in their last group game were offered a lifeline.
Coach Abdul Karim Zito’s side were selected as one of the best two third placed teams, having finished off with four points.
Ghana started the tournament in sterling fashion but saw their dominance fizzling out gradually. The Satellites beat Tanzania 4-0 in their group opener before drawing goalless with Morocco and suffering a 2-1 reverse against Gambia. That slump dropped them to third and get them a very difficult match against Cameroon.
Before Gambia, Ghana hadn’t conceded in the tournament and Coach Karim Zito will be keen to enforce such defensive solidity when they play a Cameroon side with the tournament’s best attack.
Ahead of the match Ghana Coach Karim Zito said, “Anytime Ghana plays Cameroon, it is not an easy match for both teams and it will be very interesting tomorrow (Thursday). It will be an explosive match because we both want to qualify. It is going to be 11 versus 11 on the pitch and there is no one with an advantage.
“We have made a lot of changes from the game against Gambia. Sometimes it is good to lose because it awakens you. Now the players know that they can be beaten and they are ready, their objective is to win the game,” Zito added.
Ghana will miss out on four players through injury. Eric Appiah, Sulemana Mohamed, Aloma Benjamin and Sampson Agyapong are all ruled out.
Karim Zito noted that” We will miss them but we have to go in and fight for victory”.
The game kicks-off at 4pm GMT.