Ghana will seek for a head start against South Africa in the Group B opener of the 2015 African Youth Champions (AYC), underway in Senegal.
Both teams will lock horns in the city of Mbour, where the Black Satellites will yearn to begin their campaign on a promising note against a South African side desperate to get even with Ghana.
Ghana, perennial favourites of the tournament and winners in 1993, 1999 and 2009, are chasing a fourth continental glory at the biannual tournament of eight teams.
Having finished as runners-up on two occasions in 2001 and 2013, the Satellites, pitted in Group B alongside Zambia and Mali were victors when both sides last met in the 2009 edition at the last four where Ghana won 4-3.
Ghana coach, Sellas Tetteh who led Ghana to the continent's first ever global gold at this level with the victorious team in 2009, will count on the likes of captain Owusu Bempah, Clifford Aboagye, winner of the Bronze Ball as the third-best player at the U-20 World Cup in 2013, Samuel Afful and Samuel Tetteh to defeat the Amajitas in Mbour.
With a continental record of five semi-final appearances, Tetteh is the first to admit that his charges will require more than pedigree to start well in the tournament that serves the qualifiers for Africa's representatives at the next World Youth Championship (WYC), in New Zealand in May.
Against South Africa , runners-up in 1997 and 2009 semi-finalists, a team that had an impressive run in the qualifiers, the stage is set for a thrilling opener in Group B.
The South Africans squeezed past Ethiopia (beating the young Antelopes 3-0 over two legs) and stunned Cameroon 3-2 on aggregate to book their place to Senegal, firmly motivated to go all the way.
The Amajitas, under coach Thabo Senong, have proved to be organised, efficient and quick, capable of posing a decent threat to the Satellites.
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