Black Stars forward and captain André Ayew emphasized that the availability of exceptional talent was the key factor in Ghana’s historic victory at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.
Ayew captained the Black Satellites to become the first-ever African nation to win the U-20 World Cup trophy on October 16, 2009, when they defeated their Brazilian counterparts 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a tense 0-0 draw that saw Ghana play with ten men for over 80 minutes.
Speaking to FIFA, the Nottingham Forest player noted that while the tournament is distinct from senior national team competitions like the AFCON or the World Cup, it attracts many players who are already professionals.
“It takes talent. It’s not an AFCON, a EURO, a Copa America, or a Seniors World Cup, but it is close. These days, there are many players in this age category who are already professionals,” he stated.
The victorious 2009 squad produced several players who successfully transitioned to the senior Black Stars team, cementing a golden generation for Ghanaian football. Key members of that team included:
