Former Ghana international Augustine Ahinful has expressed his support for Black Satellites head coach Desmond Ofei, despite the team’s failure to qualify for the upcoming U-20 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana’s hopes of securing a spot at the global tournament were dashed after they were eliminated from the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following a dramatic quarterfinal loss to host nation Egypt. The match, played at the New Suez Stadium, ended 2-2 after extra time, with Egypt edging Ghana 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout.
The Black Satellites needed a win to qualify for the U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year. However, the heartbreaking loss means Ghana will miss out on the competition for the second consecutive time, having last participated in 2015.
Despite the disappointment, Ahinful has thrown his support behind Ofei, believing that the coach deserves time and resources to build a stronger team.
“Everybody wants Desmond Ofei to succeed,” Ahinful said during an appearance on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show. “He has started well, and I have met him a couple of times at the Black Stars camp. I believe he will get the time to correct the mistakes and build a competitive side.”
Ahinful, a former striker, emphasized that Ofei should be allowed the space to improve the team for future competitions. “I have not had time to engage him personally, but let’s hope he stays focused on his work and does the right things,” he added.
Ahinful’s endorsement is a vote of confidence for Ofei as the Black Satellites now regroup and plan for the future.