Head coach of the Black Satellites, Desmond Ofei, has expressed his excitement over the return of striker Jerry Afriyie to the squad ahead of their crucial quarterfinal encounter against Egypt in the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
Afriyie featured prominently in Ghana’s first two matches against DR Congo and Senegal but missed the final Group C fixture against the Central African Republic. His absence was due to a recall by his Spanish club, CD Lugo, who needed him for their weekend match against Gimnàstic.
Despite missing national duty, Afriyie made an immediate impact upon his return to club football, registering a goal and an assist in Lugo’s 2-2 draw.
Speaking to the Ghana Football Association’s official website ahead of the showdown at the New Suez Stadium, Ofei expressed gratitude to CD Lugo and praised the striker’s return.
“Jerry is a key part of our attacking setup,” Ofei told the Ghana FA website. “We understand the importance of his club commitments, and we’re thankful to CD Lugo for their understanding and collaboration.”
“His return gives us a boost at just the right time,” he added.
The highly anticipated quarterfinal is set to kick off at 15:00 GMT.
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