Black Satellites coach Desmond Offei has lamented the dismantling of his African Games-winning team due to an exodus of players pursuing opportunities abroad.

In a post-match interview following the team’s 1-2 defeat to Nigeria in the WAFU Zone B qualifiers final in Togo last Wednesday, Offei explained the difficulties he faced after losing nine key players to European clubs earlier this year.

Greener pastures

The Black Satellites claimed victory at the African Games held in Accra this year, but shortly afterwards, nine of the players who contributed to that triumph left to seek “greener pastures” in Europe.

Their departure forced Coach Offei to rebuild his squad from scratch for the WAFU qualifiers, a challenge he admitted was felt on the field.

“Losing nine key players who were crucial to our success at the African Games was a significant blow,” Offei remarked. “But this allowed us to build a new core of young talent and these boys have stepped up tremendously. They deserve this qualification just as much as anyone else", the coach said.

Despite the final loss to Nigeria, Offei emphasised his pride in the new squad’s resilience, pointing to their ability to reach the final as an achievement in itself. The coach expressed further that his players' commitment to the team through adversity demonstrated the quality and determination needed for future success.

“Qualifying for the U-20 AFCON is a huge achievement for us, especially considering the circumstances,” Offei stated. “This team faced many challenges but their determination and commitment have been incredible. I'm proud of every one of them”, Coach Offei noted.