Ghana would begin the opening phase of the 2009 African Youth Championship qualifying campaign at home tomorrow against Angola.
The Black Satellites missed out of the last edition of the African Championships and would be hoping to get off their campaign at the Ohene Djan Stadium with a good result.
However, Ghana will have to make do without captain, Andre Ayew, who misses out through injury but team coach, Sellas Tetteh is confident he has enough players to deliver an opening win.
He would have available for selection Real Madrid’s Daniel Opare, Ishmael Yartey Samuel Inkoom and Ransford Osei.
The Black Satellites might have won two titles at the African U-20 level and two second place finishes at the world event but failure to qualify for the last three FIFA World Youth Championships would spur on Sellas to reverse the trend as he tries to lead Ghana to the finals of the tournament to be hosted by Rwanda in 2009.
This is the very challenge that Sellas Tetteh would be trying to overcome as Ghana begins its qualifier for the 16th Africa Youth Championship after drawing a bye in the preliminary round as the Black Satellites join the qualifying campaign at the first round stage.
Angola promises to offer a sterner test but the Black Satellites coach is confident of getting a good start in the qualifiers.
The new challenge might come with some difficulties but Sellas is confident of enjoying every moment in his new role as coach of the Black Satellites.
“It’s about brightening the corner wherever I am. I have been entrusted with this responsibility and I think I can deliver. We (coaches) have been in the job for long and we appreciate every challenge,” he said.
The 16th Africa Youth Championship in Rwanda would begin on January 18 till February 1 2009.