Soccer News of Tuesday, 12 October 2004

Source: GNA

Satellites revamped for crucial encounter against Cote D' Ivoire

Accra, Oct 12, GNA - The national Under-20 team, the Black Satellites has been revamped with players from some Premier league clubs for their crucial second leg last qualifier for the African Youth Cup against Cote d'Ivoire in Abidjan next Sunday.

Among some of the players invited for the encounter, which sees the life of the Satellites hanging by a thin thread after the Ivorians beat them by a lone goal at their backyard, is Heart of Lions, Sam Yeboah who is the current leading goal scorer in the Premiership.

The rest are Seidu Fatau Jnr (RTU), Frank Andoh and Daniel Asamaoh (AshantiGold) as well as Alex Asamoah and Osei Kofi both from Berekum Arsenals.

A statement signed for the General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association asked the invited players to report to camp on Thursday, October 14 to commence preparation for the encounter which has been pushed back a week by the Confederation of African Football in view of fixture congestion over this weekend.

The match is very crucial for the Ghanaians who need to win at all cost in Abidjan to entertain any chance of qualifying for the African Youth Cup scheduled for Benin next early next year.

The Ghanaians would be fighting from a very difficult position having lost the first leg at home by a lone goal to the Ivorians in the first leg played at the Accra Sports Stadium some two weeks ago.

Coach Oti Akenteng has a difficult task to wedge the back line of the team together considering the fact that he will be going into the said match without two of his reliable central defenders who have been ruled out by injury and suspension.

The 24 players invited to the camp are dominated by players from the Premier League clubs with players from Liberty Professional topping the list with four players.

The invited players are Patrick Antwi, Michael Helegbe, Felix Baffoe and Mumuni Bawa (Liberty Professionals) Sam Yeboah and Dramani Aminu (Heart of Lions) Michael Akuffo and Iddi Yekini, (Fayenoord) Seidu Fatau Jnr, (RTU) Prince Tagoe and Joseph Ababio, (Accra Hearts of Oak) Iddi Yahaya, Prince Antwi and Kwesi Pobie Ansah (Faisal).

The rest of the invited players are Frank Andoh and Daniel Asamoah, (Ashantigold) Osei Kofi and Alex Asamoah, (Arsenals) Anthony Annan and Eric Owusu, (Hasaacas) Alhaji Musah, (Aduana Stars) Douglas Nkrumah, (Power) Mohammed Gado, (Olympics) Kwabena Yaro, (Okwawu)