Cancellation of Sunday's game could affect Black Satellites negatively - Oti Akenteng

Ghana Football Association technical director Oti Akenteng has stated that the cancellation of the Black Satellites opening fixture against Burkina Faso in the ongoing Africa Youth Championship could have an adverse effect on the team.

The Ghana's U-20 were scheduled to engage the young Stallions of Burkina Faso in the first match of Group A on Sunday.

But the match was called off due to problems with the floodlights at the match venue and now the two teams will take to the field on Monday at 03:30 GMT.

"Cancellation of the game will have a negative on the players. Yesterday we spoke to the players when the news came and we have psyched them up for today’s game," Mr. Akenteng told Happy FM.

The soft-spoken Akenteng declared that Jimmy Cobblah's charges should expect a stern match against their West African counterparts due to the influx of foreign players in their ranks.

"I have not watch Burkina Faso games but the coach and technical team has some knowledge about their opponents. It will be very difficult game which I must admit. A lot of players are also foreign based and they are taller than our boys."

The decision did not affect the first match of the group as Senegal inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Mali in the opening game on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Nigeria opened their U-20 Africa Cup of Nations account with a hard fought 2-0 win over Burundi on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey.

Siphesihle Mkhize scored twenty minutes from time to rescue a point for South Africa in the opening match of the tournament against hosts Niger in Niamey.