Black Satellites coach Desmond Ofei has expressed confidence in his squad’s preparedness ahead of the 2023 African Games indicating that he feels ‘no pressure’.
The team is set to face Congo in the opening game of Group A on Friday, March 8 at 3 pm. They will square off with Gambia and Benin in subsequent group matches.
📝 Here's the full schedule of fixtures for the 13th African Games Men’s and Women’s Football tournaments! ⚽️#AfricanGames | #Accra2023 pic.twitter.com/2v63De6vJM
— 🇬🇭 Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) March 6, 2024
The Black Satellites aim to improve on their performance from the 2019 edition, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage.
Addressing concerns about the pressure on the team, Ofei dismissed any notion of burden, emphasising that the squad is well-prepared, with a hunger to succeed.
“We are fully prepared. We have a good squad. Our boys are ready and hungry. We don’t feel any pressure; not at all.”
Coach Ofei, who took over the U-20 national team in September 2023, sees the 13th African Games as an opportunity to redeem the image of Ghanaian men’s football.
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Ghana football has recently faced challenges, with the senior national team, the Black Stars, experiencing disappointment in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Ivory Coast. The Black Satellites aim to break this trend and restore faith in Ghana’s footballing prowess.
This tournament marks Ofei’s first assignment since assuming the coaching role, and he is optimistic about the team’s prospects. The 35-year-old coach is confident in the abilities of his players, describing them as ready and hungry for success.