Ghana, Brazil set for U-20 World Cup final
Last Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2009 | 3:05 PM ET
CBC Sports
Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah is the top scorer (eight goals) at this year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. (Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press)Ghana has a date with history.
The Ghanaian youth side, dubbed the Black Satellites, will try to become the first African team to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup when they face Brazil in Friday's final in Cairo (CBC Bold, CBCSports.ca, 1:55 p.m. ET).
Ghana has been here before, having lost in the finals to Brazil (in 1993) and to Argentina (2001), but there is good reason to believe that the African nation can finally break through this year.
Tabbed as one of the tournament favourites before a ball was even kicked, Ghana has lived up to its top billing, going undefeated in the first round and advancing to the final on the strength of a high-powered offence.
Indeed, strikers Dominic Adiyiah have combined for 12 goals thus far, with Adiyiah bagging eight — just three short of the tournament record set by Argentina's Javier Saviola in 2001.
Needless to say that Ghana is brimming with confidence and isn't intimidated in the least by the mighty Brazilians.
"It's a fantastic feeling when you reach the final. We'll do whatever it takes to win the trophy now," coach Sellas Tetteh told FIFA.com.
"We're favourites and we're up for the challenge. We've played good football throughout the tournament. We have no reason to be nervous. We have the required fitness and we have the necessary determination."
Just like Ghana, this is familiar territory for Brazil.
The South American powerhouse has won the title four times (1983, 1985, 1993 and 2003) and has played in seven finals.
Brazil laboured to a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in the semifinals on Tuesday, but coach Rogerio Lourenco isn't too concerned about that, and believes Friday's final will be an open affair featuring two teams renowned for their attacking style of play.
"We certainly weren't at our best in the semifinal against Costa Rica, but that doesn't concern me in the slightest. Our target was to reach the final, and we've hit our target," Lourenco said.
"Ghana have played quality football all through the tournament and deserve their place in the final. They play a very similar attacking game to us. The crowd can look forward to plenty of entertainment."
A Brazilian victory in the final would make it five in a row for South America, with Argentina winning the last two titles and three of the last four. Spain, in 1999, is the last nation outside of South America to claim the championship.
Ghana defender Samuel Inkoom isn't bothered by the fact that history is working against his team.
"Of course we're aware of those figures, but we came here to write history and to return home with the trophy," he said. "So that's what we're going to do."
Hungary meets Costa Rica in Friday's bronze-medal match (CBC Bold, CBCSports.ca, 10:55 a.m. ET).
