The Black Satellites of Ghana were held to a 1-1 draw in their opening game at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt on Friday evening.
Aziz Musibau’s fine strike cancelled out Samuel Ntandu-Lukisa’s early goal for DR Congo, as the two sides shared the spoils in a pulsating Group C opener.
Coach Desmond Offei will be hoping his team bounces back to winning ways in their next group game against defending champions Senegal.
Here are five things we learned from the team’s first game:
Abdul Hakim Sulemana steals the show
Abdul Hakim, the younger brother of Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, proved he is one to watch after a stellar display in the opening game, earning him the Man of the Match award. Although he didn’t register a goal or assist, he was a constant threat for the Congolese defenders, who struggled to contain the Randers player.
Jerry Afriyie should have started
The CD Lugo and Black Stars striker started on the bench, and Ghana looked toothless in front of goal during the first half.
The only bright moment in attack was Musibau’s equaliser midway through the first stanza. However, Afriyie’s introduction added much-needed attacking threat, forcing DR Congo to sit deeper. He almost grabbed the winner late on, but his goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by a Congolese defender.
Ghana lives up to the ‘slow starters’ tag
Ghana has earned a reputation for slow starts at major tournaments, including the last U-20 AFCON in Mauritania in 2021, where they opened with a draw but went on to win the tournament. The Black Satellites showed signs of bouncing back again after a shaky start in this year’s campaign.
Desmond Offei maintains a possession-based style
Despite conceding early, it was evident that Offei prefers a possession-based approach, building from the back and controlling the tempo. The equaliser was the result of a well-constructed build-up, underlining this tactical identity. Ghana ended the first half with over 60% of possession.
