| Nickname | The Black Satellites | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Ghana Football Association | ||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
| Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | ||
| Head coach | Desmond Sakyi Ofei | ||
| FIFA code | GHA | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 Gambia 1 – 0 Ghana(Banjul,Gambia; 9 September 1984) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Ghana 6 – 0 Mali(Accra,Ghana; 11 November 1990) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 Algeria 3 – 0 Ghana(Algiers,Algeria; 27 August 1988)  Colombia 4 – 1 Ghana(Le Pontet, France; 29 May 2000)  Argentina 3 – 0 Ghana(Buenos Aires,Argentina; 8 July 2001) | |||
| U-20 Africa Cup of Nations | |||
| Appearances | 10 (first in 1991) | ||
| Best result |  Winners (1993,1999,2009,2021) | ||
| FIFA U-20 World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 7 (first in 1993) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2009) | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| FIFA U-20 World Cup | ||
 | 1993 Australia | Team |
| 2001 Argentina | Team |
 | 2009 Egypt | Team |
 | 2013 Turkey | Team |
Ghana national U-20 football team known as theBlack Satellites, is considered to be the feeder team for theGhana national football team. They are the formerFIFA U-20 World Cup Champions andU-20 Africa Cup of Nations Champions. They have also been a four-time African Champion in 1995, 1999,2009,2021 and a two-time Runner-up at theFIFA World Youth Championship in 1993, 2001 and finished third in 2013. Ghana has participated in only six of the past 19 World Cup events starting with their first inAustralia 1993 where theylost the World Cup final 1-2 toBrazil inSydney and inArgentina 2001 where theylost the World Cup final 0-3 toArgentina inBuenos Aires. Incredibly, in 32 FIFA World Cup matches, Ghana has not lost a game in regulation below the Semi Final level of theFIFA U20 World Cup.They however failed to qualify for 3 consecutive events inUAE 2003,Netherlands 2005 andCanada 2007 until they made theEgypt 2009 Tournament.
They won the2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in theCairo International Stadium,Cairo,Egypt after defeatingBrazil4-3 on Penalties when the match ended (0-0) after extra time. This was the first time an African country won theFIFA U-20 World Cup Championship.
TheBlack Satellites reached the FIFA U-20 World Cup final in their 1st appearance inAustralia 1993 (Australia 1993 U-20 html Stats here), catching many teams on the hop with their lightning changes of pace. In fact, nine of the 22 players in the "Black Satellites'" squad had lifted the FIFA U-17 World Championship two years earlier, so their performance could only really be considered a half-surprise. Still they were a joy to watch: enterprising and unpredictable.[1] They repeated the feat in 2001 succumbing to Tournament Hosts Argentina in the Final. Previously in1997, they hadlost 3-2 on agolden goal toUruguay inExtra Time of the World Cup Semi Final. In1999 eventual ChampionsSpain eliminated Ghana in the Quarter Final on sudden deathpenalty kicks after a1-1 tied game.
What makes Ghana's footballers so dominant in their age group?FIFA Magazine[2] askedOtto Pfister. Football is not simply the most popular sport in this part of Africa, it is an absolute religion, he said. This is the way the game is regarded in Ghana. Young boys here think about football 24 hours a day and play for at least eight – whether on clay, rough fields or dusty streets. They develop their skills naturally, without any specific training, and end up with superb technique and ability on the ball. They are also fast and tricky, and can feint well with their bodies. Africa and South America have by far the best young footballers in the world – on a technical level they are superb. And technique is what it takes to make a good player.[citation needed]
What else goes towards making Ghana so strong? Otto Pfister continues; In Africa there is often only one way for many young lads to escape from poverty and to make their way up the social scale – football. Youngsters want to become stars and to play in a top European league. That is their main aim and they will do anything to achieve it. Let me give you an example: While I was coaching in Ghana I once told my team to be ready for training at three o'clock in the morning. At half past two they were all assembled and ready to go. They want to learn and they want to play for the national team. They know that in their country a national team player is a hero and enjoys a level of prestige that is not comparable to that in Europe. Another positive point for young players in Ghana is that there are many good coaches in the country who help develop the available talent and above all want to let them play. This policy pays off.[3] Today, many Ghanaian youngsters are inG14 Club Academies in Europe.[citation needed]
| Year | Round | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1977 | did not participate | |||||||
 1979 | ||||||||
 1981 | ||||||||
 1983 | Withdrew | |||||||
 1985 | did not qualify | |||||||
 1987 | Disqualified | |||||||
 1989 | did not qualify | |||||||
 1991 | ||||||||
| 1993 | Runners-up | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | |
 1995 | did not qualify | |||||||
 1997 | Fourth place | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | |
 1999 | Quarter finals | 5 | 3 | 2* | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2001 | Runners-up | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | |
 2003 | did not qualify | |||||||
 2005 | ||||||||
 2007 | ||||||||
 2009 | Champions | 7 | 5 | 2* | 0 | 16 | 8 | |
| 2011 | did not qualify | |||||||
 2013 | Third Place | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 12 | |
 2015 | Round of 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | |
 2017 | did not qualify | |||||||
 2019 | ||||||||
| 2023 | ||||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
  2027 | to be determined | |||||||
| Total | 7/25 | 43 | 26 | 9 | 8 | 76 | 47 | |
|
|
The following players were selected for the2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations between 27 April – 18 May 2025.[4]
Caps and goals correct as of 5 May 2025, after the match againstSenegal
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1GK | Gidios Aseako | (2005-01-19)19 January 2005 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Dreams |
| 16 | 1GK | Yakubu Saeed | (2006-12-31)31 December 2006 (age 18) | 2 | 0 | Medeama |
| 21 | 1GK | Patrick Arthur | 0 | 0 | Nsuopun Fidelity | |
| 4 | 2DF | Dacosta Antwi | (2007-03-06)6 March 2007 (age 18) | 4 | 0 | Young Apostles |
| 5 | 2DF | Nana Kwame Boakye | (2005-12-05)5 December 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 |  Sheriff Tiraspol |
| 17 | 2DF | Denis Marfo | (2006-01-28)28 January 2006 (age 19) | 2 | 0 |  Internacional |
| 18 | 2DF | Maxwell Azafokpe | 5 | 0 | Tudu Mighty Jets | |
| 3 | 3MF | McCarthy Ofori | (2005-03-03)3 March 2005 (age 20) | 3 | 0 |  Bylis |
| 6 | 3MF | Kelvin Ahiable | (2005-06-24)24 June 2005 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Dreams |
| 8 | 3MF | Ishmael Addo | (2006-12-23)23 December 2006 (age 18) | 3 | 0 | Heart of Lions |
| 9 | 3MF | Lord Afrifa | (2006-06-05)5 June 2006 (age 19) | 2 | 0 |  Sturm Graz |
| 14 | 3MF | Aaron Essel | (2005-07-30)30 July 2005 (age 20) | 8 | 0 |  North Texas |
| 23 | 3MF | Hayford Boahen | (2005-12-14)14 December 2005 (age 19) | 3 | 1 | Cheetah |
| 25 | 3MF | Joseph Aidoo | (2005-02-19)19 February 2005 (age 20) | 2 | 0 |  Sănătatea Cluj |
| 2 | 4FW | Michael Amer | 0 | 0 | Nice Ibrahim | |
| 7 | 4FW | Emmanuel Mensah | (2005-06-18)18 June 2005 (age 20) | 2 | 1 |  Sogndal |
| 10 | 4FW | Aziz Issah | (2005-11-20)20 November 2005 (age 20) | 2 | 0 |  Barcelona |
| 11 | 4FW | Jerry Afriyie | (2006-12-10)10 December 2006 (age 18) | 4 | 0 | Lugo |
| 12 | 4FW | Joseph Opoku | (2005-08-08)8 August 2005 (age 20) | 2 | 0 |  Zulte Waregem |
| 13 | 4FW | George Tei Nagadzi | (2005-10-14)14 October 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Vision |
| 15 | 4FW | Andrews Adjabeng | (2006-03-04)4 March 2006 (age 19) | 5 | 0 | Real Sociedad |
| 19 | 4FW | Musibau Aziz | (2006-12-30)30 December 2006 (age 18) | 3 | 1 | Dreams |
| 20 | 4FW | Hakim Sulemana | (2005-02-19)19 February 2005 (age 20) | 3 | 0 |  Randers |
| 22 | 4FW | Clinton Duodu | (2005-06-20)20 June 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 |  Apollon Limassol |
The following list consist of previous Ghana U-20 national team players who have won or were influential at theFIFA U-20 World Cup with the Ghana U-20 national team or theFIFA U-17 World Cup with theGhana U-17 national team, and those who were part of theGhana U-23 national team that won thebronze medal at the1992 Summer Olympics. The list also includes the players who have graduated from the Ghana U-20 national team and gone on to represent the seniorGhana national team at theFIFA World Cup orAfrican Cup of Nations:
| FIFA Tourney | Manager name |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Sellas Tetteh |
| 2009 | Sellas Tetteh |
| 2001 | Emmanuel Akwasi Afranie |
| 1999 |  Giuseppe Dossena |
| 1997 | Francis Oti Akenteng |
| 1993 | Fred Osam-Duodu |
Head coach:Sellas Tetteh
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1GK | Daniel Adjei | (1989-11-10)10 November 1989 (aged 19) | Liberty | ||
| 2 | 2DF | Samuel Inkoom | (1989-06-01)1 June 1989 (aged 20) |  Basel | ||
| 3 | 3MF | Gladson Awako | (1990-12-31)31 December 1990 (aged 18) | Heart of Lions | ||
| 4 | 2DF | Jonathan Mensah | (1990-07-13)13 July 1990 (aged 19) |  Free State Stars | ||
| 5 | 2DF | Daniel Addo | (1989-09-03)3 September 1989 (aged 20) | King Faisal | ||
| 6 | 2DF | David Addy | (1990-02-21)21 February 1990 (aged 19) | FC Porto | ||
| 7 | 3MF | Abeiku Quansah | (1990-11-02)2 November 1990 (aged 18) |  Nice | ||
| 8 | 3MF | Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu | (1990-12-02)2 December 1990 (aged 18) | Asante Kotoko | ||
| 9 | 3MF | Opoku Agyemang | (1989-06-07)7 June 1989 (aged 20) | Al-Sadd | ||
| 10 | 3MF | André Ayew (c) | (1989-12-17)17 December 1989 (aged 19) | Marseille | ||
| 11 | 4FW | Latif Salifu | (1990-08-01)1 August 1990 (aged 19) | Liberty | ||
| 12 | 2DF | Ghandi Dassenu | (1989-08-09)9 August 1989 (aged 20) | Liberty | ||
| 13 | 3MF | Mohammed Rabiu | (1989-12-31)31 December 1989 (aged 19) | Liberty | ||
| 14 | 2DF | Daniel Opare | (1990-10-18)18 October 1990 (aged 18) | Real Madrid | ||
| 15 | 2DF | Philip Boampong | (1990-01-01)1 January 1990 (aged 19) | Arsenal | ||
| 16 | 1GK | Robert Dabuo | (1990-11-10)10 November 1990 (aged 18) | Wa All Stars | ||
| 17 | 2DF | John Benson | (1991-08-27)27 August 1991 (aged 18) | ASPIRE | ||
| 18 | 4FW | Ransford Osei | (1990-12-05)5 December 1990 (aged 18) | Medeama | ||
| 19 | 2DF | Bright Addae | (1992-12-19)19 December 1992 (aged 16) | Wa All Stars | ||
| 20 | 4FW | Dominic Adiyiah | (1989-11-29)29 November 1989 (aged 19) | Fredrikstad FK | ||
| 21 | 1GK | Joseph Addo | (1990-11-02)2 November 1990 (aged 18) | Sekondi Hasaacas |
The following table shows Ghana's head-to-head record in theFIFA U-20 World Cup.
| Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 066.67 |
| Austria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 000.00 |
| Brazil | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 033.33 |
| Chile | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 100.00 |
 China | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 000.00 |
 Costa Rica | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 |
 Croatia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 000.00 |
 Ecuador | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 |
 England | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 100.00 |
| Egypt | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 |
| France | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 000.00 |
 Germany | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 000.00 |
 Hungary | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 100.00 |
 Iran | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 |
 Iraq | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 |
| Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
 Kazakhstan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 |
| Mali | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 000.00 |
 Panama | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 |
 Paraguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
| Portugal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 100.00 |
 Republic of Ireland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 050.00 |
 Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
| South Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 100.00 |
| Spain | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 000.00 |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 |
| United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 100.00 |
 Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 000.00 |
| Uzbekistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
| Total | 43 | 26 | 9 | 8 | 76 | 47 | +29 | 060.47 |
| Preceded by | World Champions 2009(First title) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | African Champions 1993(First title) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | African Champions 1999(Second title) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | African Champions 2009(Third title) | Succeeded by |
| National teams | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League system |
| ||||
| Domestic cups |
| ||||
| Awards | |||||
| North Africa (UNAF) | |
|---|---|
| West Africa (WAFU) | |
| East Africa (CECAFA) | |
| Central Africa (UNIFFAC) | |
| Southern Africa (COSAFA) | |
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations winners | |
|---|---|
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