Ghana U20 head coach Maxwell Konadu has vowed to revamp the Black Satellites squad ahead of the 2027 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations, following the team’s disappointing group-stage exit at the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Black Satellites finished third in Group B with two points from three matches, suffering a 4-2 defeat to Nigeria before drawing 1-1 with Burkina Faso and 0-0 against Togo.
Despite the setback, Ghana will still compete at the 2027 U20 AFCON as tournament hosts, but Konadu insists the squad will look different by then.
“We came here to win, but it didn’t work out. We will reorganise ourselves. Definitely, we will not present the same team for the AFCON next year,” Konadu said.
The former Black Stars assistant coach explained that the tournament also served as an opportunity to assess a largely home-based squad, with several players doing enough to impress despite the early elimination.
“Some of them have demonstrated that if they get the chance they can really excel,” he added.
Konadu, however, admitted that Ghana’s preparations and lack of international exposure contributed to the team’s struggles.
“Without good preparation you can’t just come and win tournaments. I think exposure was a factor in this one,” he said.
Although disappointed by the outcome, the experienced tactician praised his players’ commitment throughout the competition and believes the lessons learned in Côte d’Ivoire will help Ghana build a stronger team capable of challenging for continental glory when the country hosts the 2027 CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
