The Black Satellites of Ghana began their campaign in the WAFU U-20 Zone B Championship with a spirited 2-2 draw against a determined Benin side. The match, that happened to be the second match of the day, saw moments of brilliance, resilience, and drama, setting the tone for an exciting tournament ahead.
The Black Satellites started brightly, showing energy and intent in the early stages. Their efforts paid off in the 13th minute, when Jerry Afriyie opened the scoring. After a swift attacking move, Afriyie latched onto a well-timed pass inside the box and slotted the ball past the Benin goalkeeper to give Ghana a 1-0 lead. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Ghanaian bench and fans, as the team looked poised to take control of the match.
However, Benin quickly found their footing. In the 26th minute, the opposition equalized from a perfectly executed free-kick. The set-piece delivery was floated into the box, and a Benin attacker rose above the Ghanaian defense to head the ball into the net, beyond the reach of the Ghanaian goalkeeper. The score was now 1-1, shifting momentum to the visitors.
Just before halftime, in the 40th minute Benin stunned the Satellites by taking the lead. A casually well-floated ball that was meant for the box but rather flew past everyone and behind the goalkeeper to make it 2-1, leaving Ghana trailing till the break.
Despite going into halftime, a goal down, the Black Satellites returned with renewed determination in the second half. They pressed for an equalizer, creating several chances but struggled to break through Benin’s compact defense.
Finally, their persistence paid off. Midway through the second half, with Afriyie once again scoring, leveling the score at 2-2.
A Hard-Fought Point
The Black Satellites will now shift focus to their next group-stage game, eager to build on this performance and chase their dream of lifting the WAFU Zone B Championship trophy.
