Maxwell Konadu urges team discipline ahead of Burkina Faso showdown

Black Satellites head coach Maxwell Konadu says Ghana's determination to bounce back from their opening defeat must be matched with discipline when they face Burkina Faso in a crucial Group B clash at the WAFU B U-20 Championship on Thursday.

The Black Satellites head into the encounter at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro knowing that anything less than a positive result could seriously dent their hopes of reaching the knockout stage after suffering a 4-2 defeat to Nigeria in their opening match.

Despite the pressure, Konadu insists his players must remain composed and avoid letting their desperation for victory affect their game plan.

"We are anxious to win the game, but that shouldn't lead us to throw everything away. We have to manage the game depending on how it unfolds. Obviously, we have to be more aggressive because we want to carry the day," Konadu said.

The former Asante Kotoko coach revealed that the technical team has worked extensively on both the psychological and physical readiness of the squad, urging the players to put the opening defeat behind them.

"We have prepared the boys psychologically and physically for tomorrow's encounter. What happened on Monday, we've kept that behind us. It's past and gone. There is nothing we can do about it. The assignment ahead of us is important and crucial for all of us," he stated.

Konadu disclosed that Ghana's tactical approach will focus on exploiting the flanks, where he believes his side possesses a significant advantage.

"We told the boys to keep more circulation to our advantage where we're strong, especially in the wide areas. We need to exploit those areas very well."

While acknowledging Burkina Faso's strengths, the experienced tactician believes Ghana have identified areas they can exploit.

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"They progress the ball well, and they have some quality in their team, but so do we. It's about not allowing them to have their way deep in midfield. We know they are not as strong in the wide areas, and we have to be cautious of their two attacking forwards."

Konadu also attributed some of Ghana's struggles against Nigeria to the inexperience of several players, many of whom were making their debut at the tournament.

"Most of the boys are new to this tournament, so some were a bit jittery. The players have recovered and are ready to face Burkina tomorrow," he noted.

The coach further revealed that the technical team has spent time addressing the defensive lapses that proved costly in the opening fixture and is confident the players have learned from those mistakes.

PAH/SEA

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