Newly appointed national U-20 captain Andrea Dede Ayew will miss Ghana’s first game in the 2009 African Youth Championships after flying back to France to check up on a knee injury. The Olympique Marseille midfielder had hoped to regain full fitness before Sunday’s first leg qualifier against Angola but has given up to concentrate on getting fully fit for the French season.

In his absence, Kessben FC striker Ransford Osei will captain the U-20s under the technical guidance of Sellas Tetteh.

Dede who was a member of the Black Stars side that reached the semi-finals at the Nations Cupis hoping he will return in time to help the Black Satellites return to the African U-20 tournament after missing the 2005 and 2007 edition.