Black Satellites head coach Jimmy Cobblah is confident his team will qualify for the 2019 Fifa U-20 World Cup in Poland despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Senegal at the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niger on Wednesday.
Ghana could not secure early qualification after they were denied all three points by a determined Senegalese side despite winning their first group B game against Mali at Maradi Stadium.
Satellites now need at least a draw in their last group fixture against their bogey side Mali on Saturday to qualify for the U-20 World Cup scheduled in May/June.
“I don’t know where assertions about Mali's strength and their supposed status as the second favourites to win this tournament is coming from," Cobblah said at a post-match conference on Wednesday.
"People were saying Ghana are going to be the weakest team because we have no [competitive] competition [going on] in our country, but I want to say that Ghana will not leave this tournament without a medal.
“I can assure you that we will qualify for the World Cup come the day we play Mali."
The experienced gaffer also revealed his displeasure about having to face Senegal only two days after playing Burkina Faso in the opener. Senegal, on the other hand, had an extra day of rest.
“We protested that it was not fair for us to have only 24 hours rest, but the organisers said we must [play], so we had no option than to come and play. But we're still hoping for the best.”
Ghana have failed to qualify for the global showpiece since a second-round finish at New Zealand 2015.