Can Ghana’s Satellites rise in North African skies with World Cup qualification in sight?

"It is a golden ticket. Everybody wants this ticket," said Black Satellites head coach Desmond Ofei. He spoke during a press conference before Monday's U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal against Egypt.

Ghana will face the host nation for a spot in the semifinals. The importance of this game is clear to both teams.

Ofei's team has performed well in the competition. They have two wins and one draw from three group stage games. They played DR Congo (1-1), defending champions Senegal (1-0), and Central African Republic (1-0).

This marks their return to the competition since 2021. Although their performances weren't perfect, they achieved good results.

Egypt, as last-minute hosts, advanced after a 1-0 win over Tanzania in their final group match.

In Group A, Egypt played four games, winning two, losing one, and drawing one. They have relied on home support throughout the tournament. Head coach Osama Nabih hopes to reward fans for their encouragement.

"We’re facing injuries and fatigue," Nabih admitted. "But we are determined to make our fans happy." He emphasized that this match is crucial for qualifying for the World Cup after 12 years.

Both teams know a World Cup ticket is at stake, adding extra motivation beyond reaching the semifinals. Ghana aims to return to the global stage for the first time since 2015. Egypt last appeared in the World Cup 12 years ago.

Despite playing one more game, Egypt has scored three goals like Ghana but conceded four more goals than Ghana’s one.

Ghana will benefit from star player Jerry Afriyie returning after joining CD Lugo post-group stage matches.

For many players, these tournaments are chances to showcase their talent with scouts present in Egypt. However, Ghana's Aaron Essel feels there’s more at stake than just attracting clubs.

"There’s talk of scouts watching us," he said at the pre-match press conference. "But our focus is on qualifying for the World Cup and making Ghana proud."

"We’re not just playing for ourselves; we’re playing for Ghana," he added. "We want to leave a legacy."

The outcome of this match will reveal if those aspirations can be achieved. Kickoff is scheduled for 15:00 GMT in Suez.