Satellites Poised For France Revenge

Satellites Poised For France Revenge Israel-based Baba Mensah, Jeremiah Arkorful and Princebell Addico are expected to be handed starting roles by Coach Sellas Tetteh as the Black Satellites handlers attempt to fix a sudden defensive handicap before they take on France in a daunting semi-final battle this evening. The three players were prominent in all the team’s training sessions at the Ataturk Stadium in Bursa. Mensah and Arkorful have been consigned to the reserves bench since the 2013 U-20 World Cup began, but will be assigned central defensive role in the absence of skipper Lawrence Lartey and Joseph Larweh Attamah who have been suspended from today’s game for attracting two yellow cards each. Mensah was one of the team’s defensive pillars before the Africa Youth Championship in April, this year. But he later lost his position to Tema Youth defender, Attarma. Israel-based Mensah will be happy to be handed the role to mark out the deadly attacking French duo of Yahaya Sonogo and Paul Pogba. The absence of the suspended centre-backs handed coach Tetteh a major headache and left many journalists covering the tourney wondering whether Ghana’s technical handlers could manage the situation against a France side which run riot against the Ghanaians in their group clash. But the Ghana coach shrugged off any looming danger that the absence of Lartey and Attamah will pose to his squad. “I came with 22 strong men capable of doing the job here and I trust in their capacity and capability,” Tetteh said. At a pre-match press conference yesterday, Ghana’s coach waxed confidence and underlined his trust in his boys, adding that he was sure Ghana would prevail today against a team that beat the satellites 3-1 in their opening Group a clash. “We’re sure to beat France this time around, because the spirit in the team is quite high and we are determined not to allow them to run over us this time,” Tetteh said confidently. For keen observers, particularly journalists covering the tournament, there is an obsession with the huge physical presence of the France team compared with the smaller physique of the Ghanaian side. Many believe the contest will be narrowed to a battle of physique which the Europeans possess an advantage. But it appears Ghana will rely heavily on the wits of nimble-footed Clifford Aboagye, the enterprise of Frank Acheampong, the predatory instincts of leading marksman Ebenezer Assifuah and Richmond Boakye-Yiadom combined with the stabbing runs on the flanks by defender Baba Rahman and Richmond Nketsiah, who made a late recovery yesterday evening. The Satellites seem ready for tonight’s onslaught with the determination to sail into the finals on Saturday.

Source: Daily Graphic