TOTAL AFCON U-20 FINALS (Saturday March 6)
FULL TIME Ghana 2-0 Uganda ( Daniel Afriyie Barnieh 21’ 51′ )
The Black Satellites of Ghana have lifted their fourth Total CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title after beating the Uganda Hippos 2-0 in the final of the 2021 edition of the tournament.
Despite finishing third from their group, the West African side steadily progressed into the final with exciting performances in the knockout phase defeating both Cameroon and Gambia in the qaurterfinal and semi-finals respectively.
Locking horns with their counterpart from Uganda in the final of the tournament staged at the Stade Olympique Nouakchott in Mauritania today, Ghana finished off the job to emerge winners with yet another outstanding performance.
The Black Satellites Skipper Daniel Afriyie Barnieh scored with an assist from Abdul Issahaku after 20 minutes of play to give Ghana the lead.
Maintaining control and enjoying the lion’s share of possession throughout the game, the Black Satellites sealed the win in the second half courtesy of a second goal from Daniel Afriyie Barnieh just 6 minutes from the restart.
Uganda coach Morley Byekwaso went for a change in formation, Ivan Bogere and Samuel Senyonjo coming on for the off color Richard Basangwa and Ivan Asaba. With the change, Senyonjo joined Kakooza upfront for a twin-striking option.
Bogere was lively after coming on and he should have had a goal to his name in the 70th minute when the ball graciously landed on him inside the box, but his shot on the turn was too week, keeper Danlad Ibrahim collecting with ease.
Uganda kept the hunt for the two goals, but couldn’t crack to score with Ghana seeing out the result for a jubilant end to a happy Independence Day.
With the deserved 2-0 win, the Ghana U-20 team has been crowned champions of the 2021 Total CAF U-20 AFCON tournament, increasing the number of trophies won at this level to four for the West African giants.
This was Uganda’s first major final since the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations where the Cranes coincidentally lost to Ghana.
Uganda Starting XI: Jack Komakech (GK), Garvin Kizito Mugweri (C), Aziz Kayondo, Musa Ramathan, Kenneth Ssemakula, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Isma Mugulusi, Steven Sserwadda, Derrick Kakooza, Ivan Asaba, Richard Basangwa
Ghana Starting XI: Danlad Ibrahim, Philemon Baffour, Frank Kwabena Assinki, Uzair Alhassan, Samuel Abbey-Ashe Quaye, Emmanuel Essiam, Patrick Mensah, Abdul Fatuwa Issahaku, Percious Boah, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Mohammed Sulemana
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