After struggling to beat the hosts Mauritius in their opening group match, the Black Satellites were beaten 2-0 by Cameroon, shattering all hopes of Ghana making it to the next stage of the competition.
However, a hard fought 1-0 victory over hot favourites Nigeria rekindled the fading Ghanaian hopes in the competition.
That goal scored by defender Kofi Nimoh also knocked Nigeria out of the competition and shot the Satellites into the semi-final collision with Egypt whom they beat 3-1 to qualify for the final.
Augustine Arhinful and Kwabena Boateng (brace) scored for Ghana in that match.
At the semi-final stage Cameroon also dismissed Ethiopia with a 5-0 spanking, setting up the final on 10 February 1993, a repeat of the Ghana – Cameroon group match.
The Final
In a dramatic reversal of their group ‘A’ match, Ghana’s Black Satellites turned the heat on Cameroon with a 2-0 victory to emerge as Africa Youth Soccer champions after a thrilling final match played in the Mauritian capital, Port Louis.
The Satellites went into the match without their key defender Kofi Nimoh, widely acknowledged as the tournament’s most outstanding player. He was down with injury.
Despite that setback, it was the Satellites who roared first into the lead with a powerful long- drive from midfield player Dan Addo who was adjudged the best player of the final match.
Dan Addo’s drive zoomed past the Cameroonian goalkeeper on his right side and was greeted with booming roar and firecrackers from the stands.
Twelve minutes after that excitement, the Satellites leading striker Augustine Arhinful also blasted past the Cameroonian to register the second goal for Ghana.
In the second half, Cameroon played very well but were obviously no match for the much-improved Satellites.
In the match, Kwabena Boateng of Neoplan Stars fame who scored two goals that took Ghana to the final replaced Willie Brown in the second half.
