Ghana U20 winger Benjamin Tsivanyo has called on the Black Satellites to channel the disappointment of their opening-day defeat into a spirited response as they prepare to face Burkina Faso in a crucial Group B fixture at the WAFU B U20 Championship on Thursday.
The Black Satellites suffered a 4-2 loss to defending champions Nigeria in their tournament opener, leaving Maxwell Konadu’s side with little margin for error heading into their second group game at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
Despite the setback, Tsivanyo insists the mood within the camp remains positive, with the players determined to bounce back and keep their qualification hopes alive.
“We didn’t plan to lose the match against Nigeria but unfortunately it has happened already. It is part of the game. It is how we handle that defeat that matters going forward.”
The winger believes the defeat has served as a valuable learning experience for the team, highlighting areas that require improvement while reinforcing the squad’s resilience.
“Our heads are up, we are not going to give up because we know you can’t win all matches. The defeat tells us that we have more room for improvement.”
With Burkina Faso also expected to provide a stern challenge, Tsivanyo acknowledged the quality of Thursday’s opponents but stressed that Ghana have only one objective – victory.
“We know the Burkinabè are really strong. But we’re fully prepared. We have absolutely no choice but to win this game because we need the points.”
Beyond the importance of the result, the youngster says the players are motivated by a desire to repay the faith shown in them by the technical team and make the nation proud.
“We want to make our coach proud and also Mother Ghana. We’re going to defend the name of our country.”
Tsivanyo also outlined the tactical approach the Black Satellites hope to adopt against Burkina Faso, emphasising the need for quick ball movement and discipline in executing the team’s game plan.
“We have to rally on our technical abilities, play fast to avoid injuries. 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.”
The Black Satellites know only a positive result against Burkina Faso will strengthen their chances of progressing from Group B.
