WAFU Zone B: Coach Jimmy Cobblah hopeful of group stage progress

Ghana U-20 coach Jimmy Cobblah says his team is ready to qualify from the group stages of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B championship in Togo even though he expects stiff competition from other countries.

The former Wa All Stars gaffer claims countries like Niger, Benin, and Nigeria, would be difficult opponents to face but believes his charges will be up to the task when the tournament begins.

Coach Cobblah said the ten-day tournament will be used to prepare his team for the upcoming Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Niger, 2019.

“As I have said already, this tournament has come at the right time for us, because we are going to use it to prepare for Niger and possibly the world cup," he said.

“We have a big game tomorrow against Niger, who are hosting the AFCON 2019 and have had enough preparations coming into this championship.

“They have had enough time to camp, rehearse and built the team cohesion, which gives them a lot of confidence and togetherness in their team.

“We have had only two weeks of training, but we are ready for the task ahead and we are bent on giving them a good game and come out of the tough group we find ourselves,” he added.

According to Cobblah, the likes of Benin and Nigeria, who played the Satellites in their second and final group game respectively, also have what it takes when it comes to youth football on the continent, hence the expected tough competition.

“We played Benin in the AFCON 2019 qualifiers in Cape Coast and we saw the kind of opposition they gave us, they are a formidable side and tough to beat," he added.

“And when it comes to Nigeria, they have one of the best youth teams in Africa but the crop of players I have at my disposal have what it takes to sail through, as we seek to build upon the main team for Niger, 2019”.

The Black Satellites will play Niger in their first group game on December 7, before taking on Benin on December 7 and the final game against Nigeria on December 12.

The eight nations tournament will start from December 6 to December 16 2019 in Togo.