Ghana U-20 defender Aaron Essel has stressed that the Black Satellites are entirely focused on securing a place in the World Cup ahead of their crucial quarter-final showdown with Egypt.
The two football powerhouses will face off on Monday, May 12, at the New Suez Stadium, with the winner advancing to the U-20 World Cup, set to be hosted in Chile later this year.
“There’s talk of scouts and agents watching, but that’s not our focus,” Essel said at the pre-match press briefing.
“We’re here in Egypt on a mission to qualify for the World Cup and make Ghana proud.”
Essel also brushed off the notion that facing the host nation would increase pressure on the team.
“This is football. We’ve trained hard, and the mood in camp is calm and focused,” he stated. “Everyone knows what’s at stake.”
The defender further stressed the team’s determination to represent their country with pride.
“We’re not just playing for ourselves; we’re playing for Ghana. We want to leave a legacy.”
A victory for Ghana would secure their spot in the 2025 U-20 World Cup, marking their first appearance in the tournament since 2015.
The highly anticipated match is set to kick off at 15:00 GMT.