Ghana U-20 winger Benjamin Tsivanyo has expressed confidence that the Black Satellites will bounce back when they face Burkina Faso in their second Group B match of the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship on Thursday.
The Black Satellites endured a disappointing start to their campaign after suffering a 4-2 defeat to Nigeria on Monday at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, leaving them needing a positive result to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
Despite the setback, Tsivanyo insists the team remains focused and determined to secure all three points against Burkina Faso.
“We didn’t plan to lose the match against Nigeria, but unfortunately it happened. It is part of football. What matters now is how we respond to that defeat,” he said.
The winger believes the opening defeat has served as a valuable lesson for the team and exposed areas that need improvement.
“Our heads are up. We are not going to give up because you can’t win every match. The defeat has shown us that we have more room for improvement,” he added.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s crucial encounter, Tsivanyo acknowledged the quality of the Burkinabe side but stressed that Ghana has no option but to win.
“We know Burkina Faso are a very strong team, but we’re fully prepared. We have absolutely no choice but to win because we need the points,” he said.
The youngster added that the players are determined to repay the confidence shown in them by the technical team and make the nation proud.
“We want to make our coach proud and also make Mother Ghana proud. We’re going to defend the name of our country,” he stated.
Tsivanyo also revealed the tactical approach the team intends to adopt, emphasising quick ball movement and strict adherence to the coach’s game plan.
“We have to rely on our technical abilities and move the ball quickly. We’re not going to allow them to close us down. We have to play fast and stick to the game plan.
“We have to make Ghanaians proud, and we’re determined to achieve that,” he added.
Ghana will face Burkina Faso at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 GMT.
A victory would revive the Black Satellites’ hopes of progressing to the semi-finals after their opening defeat to Nigeria.
