Yeboah: We’re sorry for the defeat

Ghana U20 winger Yaw Yeboah has rendered an apology to Ghanaians on behalf of the entire team following their 3-0 humiliation at the hands West African rivals Mali in the round of 16 of the Fifa U20 World Cup on Wednesday.

The Black Satellites were hoping to reach the quarterfinals in New Zealand but were halted by the junior Eagles, with goals from Diadie Samassekou, Dieudonne Gbakle and Aboubacar Doumbia.

“We feel that we have disappointed Ghanaians and we have also tarnished Ghana's image in the history of the U20 World Cup. We are sorry,” Yeboah told Goal.

“We did our best but we couldn't win. Mali are a very strong team and it was unfortunate we met them at this stage."

Yeboah believes it was sweet revenge for Mali after Ghana battered them 3-1 in the third-placed match of the African Youth Championship in Senegal earlier this year.

“The Malians came all out to win against us because we thrashed them in Senegal for the third position. We had a mentality of winning against them again but it didn't work out. Our tactics didn't go wrong, we just didn't win,” he said.

This is the first time the Black Stars have been knocked out in the second round of a Fifa U20 World Cup.

Ghana's previous exit in the knockout stage was at the 1999 edition when they lost 8-7 on penalties to eventual winners Spain in Nigeria.