Ghana’s U-20 national team suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Zambia in a key preparatory friendly ahead of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to begin on April 27 in Egypt.
The friendly, played on Tuesday, April 22, served as a crucial test for both teams as they fine-tuned strategies and assessed player performance before the start of the tournament.
Zambia struck first in the 21st minute through Pascal Phiri, who punished a lapse in Ghana’s defense to give the Junior Chipolopolo an early lead.
Despite the early setback, the Black Satellites came out strong in the second half, showing improved cohesion and intensity. Their efforts were rewarded in the 54th minute, when Aziz Misbawu rifled in a low shot that beat Zambian goalkeeper Levinson Banda, leveling the score at 1-1.
However, Ghana’s momentum was short-lived. David Simukonda restored Zambia’s lead with a late strike that ultimately sealed the win for the Southern African side.
While the result tipped in Zambia’s favour, Ghana’s technical team will take positives from the match, particularly the team’s resilience and standout individual performances.
With the tournament fast approaching, the match offered valuable insight as Ghana prepares to compete in Group C against DR Congo, the Central African Republic, and defending champions Senegal.
The Black Satellites will now shift their focus to final preparations, determined to make a strong impact when the continental competition kicks off.
