FIFA U20 World Cup: Ghana handed tough draw as Black Satellites face Mali in knock-out stage

Published on: 07 June 2015
FIFA U20 World Cup: Ghana handed tough draw as Black Satellites face Mali in knock-out stage
Mali players dance to their qualification to face Ghana at the U20 World Cup

Ghana have been handed tough side in the knock-out phase of the U20 World Cup as the Black Satellites will play Mali the Round of 16 at the tournament in New Zealand on Wednesday.

Ghana finished top of their Group B ahead of Austria as they eliminated six-time champions Argentina.

The 2009 world champions will now face fellow West Africans Mali in the knock outs.

Ghana were scheduled to face the third best placed team to emerge from Group A, C or D on Wednesday.

Mali and Uruguay qualified for the Round of 16 after a 1-1 draw that left them facing the drawing of lots to decide which of the two finishes second in Group D*.

The 'loser' of this drawing of lots was to advance in any case as one of the best third-placed teams.

That draw took place in Auckland shortly after the sides were left with identical points and goal tallies, Serbia having secured top spot with a 2-0 win over Mexico.

Mali lost the drawing of lots which left them as the third-placed team to face the Black Satellites on Wednesday.

Both teams played the third and fourth place match at the African Youth Championship in Senegal last March.

Sellas Tetteh’s side edged that game and would hope to win again when they meet in Wellington on June 10.

Mali finished second in Group D behind Serbia.

Ghana progressed as Group B winners as Argentina crashed out of the 2015 Under-20 World Cup in what is the shock of the tournament thus far.

Ghana finished Group B winners after a 1-0 win over Panama in their final Group B match at the FIFA U20 World Cup on Friday.

Comments

  • Nii lante
    says: 9 years ago
    It's a matter of focus n we will win
  • fish
    says: 9 years ago
    End of the road for us.Mark my words.Mali too will focus lante.
  • Ghanaman
    says: 9 years ago
    WE beat them 3-0 at African Championship.
  • james
    says: 9 years ago
    Ghana should have been given the host New Zealand who finished 3rd in Group A. The whites just don't want to see all four African countries in the quarter finals. We should not forget that the English and the Italians have begun moves to drastically reduce the number of African players in their top leagues. Even Michel Platini and other European football powers want the African slots at the World Cup reduced. Ghana may even meet Nigeria at the quarter finals..
  • Garzy
    says: 9 years ago
    Eeeeeiiii Fifa... when would this europeans have respect for we Africans? God is surely watching us all
  • OPOKU-WIAFE
    says: 9 years ago
    James I agree with u, but am reminding the officials that irrespective of their intimidation Ghana will progress n win the trophy for the second time. thank u.
  • samuel tetteh
    says: 9 years ago
    it surprises me why two African teams are meeting at this stage of the competition. Even new Zealand also placed 3rd in group A. all their plans are dubious and diabolic. I see it as a rough tactics to reduce the number of African teams progressing to the quarter finals.
  • DERRICK ASARE NIMPADU
    says: 9 years ago
    God is with us as Ghanaian s we are next to ISRAEL God have richly blessed this nation called GHANA no matter what come what may happened Ghana would come out from this horrific group