Satellite coach to use WAFU Zone B tournament as preparatory ground

Jimmy Cobblah, head coach of the national U-20 team, the Black Satellites, has said, he will use the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B championship, in Togo, to prepare his team for the upcoming Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Niger, next year.

Coach Cobblah, told the GNA Sports in interview, before his team departed to Togo, to participate in an eight nation tournament, that would run from 6th December to 16th December, 2018.

According to Cobblah, his aim was not going into the competition to win, but to get the needed preparations for his team, as they look forward to the main AFCON U-20 tournament scheduled for Niger from February 2-17, 2019.

“We have had some training matches and won all in preparing for this WAFU Zone B tournament, but that is not to say we are going to win the tournament.

“Our main aim is go there and perform well for the upcoming AFCON U-20 tournament, that could qualify us for the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) U-20 World Cup in Poland.

“We would use this tournament to assess my team and some of the opponents who would also be at Niger in 2019.

“But we would not leave anything to chance, when the opportunity comes for us to lift the trophy, as we progress” said.

Cobblah, noted that, his team was ready for the task ahead, despite having some few weeks to prepare.

“Due to challenges on the local football scene, my team looked slow, when they came to camp two weeks ago, but we have worked on them and we are ready.

“We have Niger, Benin and Nigeria in our group and I know they have had a lot of months to prepare for this tournament, with active football in their countries, but we are equal to the task.

“I have only local players who are hungry for success and it would give us a good idea of our team going forward into the main tournament”.

Ghana would take on Niger in their first group game on Friday 7th December before taking on Benin on Sunday and the final game against Nigeria on Wednesday 12 December, 2018.