Ghana won their 4th Under-20 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, on their independence day, by beating Uganda 2-0 in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
The Black Satellites found the perfect way of celebrating Ghana’s independence day by winning the U-20 AFCON title as captain Daniel Afriyie Barnieh led the team from the front after bagging a brace to sink Uganda.
The young star scored a goal in each half to lead his side to the title and make it Ghana’s first U-20 AFCON win in over 10 years and the fourth overall.
With victories in 1993, 1999 and 2009, Ghana came into the final as strong favourites to beat a resurgent Uganda side and they did not disappoint.
Ghana’s 4th U-20 AFCON title has now put them level with Egypt but are still behind Nigeria who hold a record 7 U-20 AFCON championships.
The last time Ghana won the competition, they went on to win the Under-20 FIFA World Cup but this will not be possible this time as the competition has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The tournament was to take place in Indonesia and all the U-20 teams will be hoping for a rescheduling rather than a full cancellation but it looks highly unlikely that the competition will take place.
Ghana and Uganda have only met in 1 final prior to this, which was when the senior teams clashed in the 1978 AFCON final and coincidentally, even that match ended up as a 2-0 victory for the Black Stars.
AFRIYIE MAGIC! ?
Daniel Afriyie scored twice for Ghana ?? against Uganda ?? to hand the Black Satellites the 2021 AFCON U20 title in Nouakchott.
Opoku Afriyie scored the brace that guided the Black Stars to the 1978 AFCON trophy against the Uganda Cranes in Accra. #AFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/z2TPL8h0wX
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) March 6, 2021
“Congratulations to the Black Satellites. What a way to celebrate our 64th Independence Anniversary!!”, tweeted Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Congratulations to the Black Satellites for winning Ghana’s 4th AFCON U-20 trophy. Thoroughly deserved victory, and they’ve made Mother Ghana proud. What a way to celebrate our 64th Independence Anniversary!! 1/2 pic.twitter.com/i1p0nJFJnW
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) March 7, 2021
Although Ghana were the favourites, Uganda had their fair share of chances and were very much in the game.
Uganda threatened throughout the game and will feel they should have taken the lead after just three minutes when Derrick Kakooza was through on goal but lobbed the ball over the crossbar.
Ghana hit the crossbar on two occasions from corners but the first one led to the opening goal of the game as Barnier flicked the ball into the goal at the near post after 21 minutes, following a corner by Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
Barnieh doubled his tally and his country’s lead to 2-0 in the 51st minute after a Percious Boah cross deflected kindly into the captain’s path for him to comfortably slot the ball into the net to give Ghana the win.
Ghana’s up and coming stars will want to make a mark at the senior level and it remains to be seen who takes that next step and if there are any international clubs or leagues targeting these young stars.
