After a tough exit from the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Black Satellites assistant coach Fatawu Salifu sees the WAFU B Cup as a chance for redemption. The tournament, to be held in Ghana, is an opportunity for the team to bounce back and showcase their skills.
Following the draw on Friday, Coach Fatawu acknowledged that facing Nigeria and Benin in the group stage would be a tough test. However, he expressed confidence that the team is ready to rise to the challenge. As hosts, Ghana faces high expectations, with fans demanding victory. Coach Fatawu emphasized that with determination and hard work; the team would deliver and make the country proud.
Here is what he told ghanafa.org
On moving straight to camp after the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt
Right before we returned from Egypt and after not qualifying for the World Cup, we got the information that we are going to play in the WAFU Cup, that is going to be in Ghana, where we believe that we were back to redeem our image after exiting from the tournament in Egypt.
On draw with Benin and Nigeria
We have been waiting very keenly to see which country we will face in the group stage and just today, we got information that the draw was done, and we got Nigeria and Benin in our group. Which I think this is a typical WAFU group where we believe that when Ghana and Nigeria are in group, normally we expect to see a very tough competition in the group. So, Ghana, Benin and Nigeria, I think it’s a very good group and of course all we have to do is to beat these two countries and qualify. After exiting from Egypt, we got back, and we have to come to camp and prepare. We have a tournament at hand where we believe it’s time to redeem our image.
On preparations
I think preparation has been so good so far since we returned. Like I said, we are in camp; we train, day in, day out just to try to correct the things we did in Egypt and make sure that we are ready for this tournament, so preparation so far is so good.
On expectations from Ghanaians
Ghana in any competition is expected to win in the end, so Ghanaians of course are expecting us to win now that it’s in Ghana so all they need to expect from us is good football and also in the end, we win the tournament.
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