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

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.