Black Satellites coach, Sellas Tetteh, and his South African counterpart, Serame Letsoaka, last Sunday met for the first time since the Accra friendly which saw the South Africans notch a 5-3 victory over the Satellites, and exchange pleasantries in a manner that belies the crucial situation that confronts the two sides as they walk into battle this evening (2.30pm GMT.
The two sides clash in an all-African showdown for a slot for the quarter-finals in what certainly will further Africa�s contention for the FIFA U-20 World Cup after Cameroun had taken an early exit to reduce the African strength from five to four.
South Africa has nurtured good U-20 sides since the days of Coach Meshaba in 1997, and appeared one of the strongest sides in that age category until they walked into the Satellites machine in the 2009 edition of the Africa Youth Championship in Rwanda, where the two sides, in a classic show of African flair, fought to their wits ends until the Ghanaians survived the cliffhanger with a 4-3 victory to sail through to the final.
The South Africans then pursued the Ghanaians to have their revenge and succeeded with a 5-3 thrashing of a makeshift Satellites side bereft of some of the key actors prominent in their current exploits in Egypt. Whilst the quest for a quarter-final ticket looks the obvious in the stakes for this evenings match, the two foes are looking beyond it as a decider. South Africa�s record in the ongoing competition with one win, a draw and a loss is nothing compared with the Ghanaians� record of two wins and a draw, laced with an impressive eight goals.
But the stunning recovery and the scoring revelation of Erasmus Kermit and Sibusiso Khumalo makes Coach Sellas Tetteh edgy. The recovery displayed by South Africa in the game against Honduras is a vital warning sign to beware of what is up their sleeves.
Sellas expects midfielder Rabiu Mohammed whose expulsion Ghana has appealed against returns to his fold to complement his mobile midfield force of Agyemang Badu, who has been spending greater part of the week training on his own, Andre Ayew and Domonic Adiyia. The outcome of the protest is expected to be communicated to the Satellites this morning but if the appeal flounders then Sellas says he has capable hands to take his place.
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