Check out Essien, John Mensah & others during the U-20 World Cup

Portia Arthur

August 27, 2015 11:29 AM

One of the best youth teams that the nation has produced is the 2001 squad,where Ghana won silver after losing to host Argentina in the final.

The Ghana national U-20 football team, Black Satellites, is considered to be the feeder team for the Ghana national football team.

They are the former FIFA U-20 World and African Youth Champions and a two-time Runner-up at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1993, 2001 and finished third in 2013.

Among those who made a key impact in Argentina were strikers Derek Boateng, Razak Pimpong; midfielders, Razak Ibrahim, Michael Essien, John Paintsil and defender, John Mensah.

Coached by E.K Afranie, the 2001 Black Satellites squad had wonderful young talents tipped for greatness. Four out of the aforementioned players were members of the Under-17 squad that won the African Nations Cup in 1999 in Guinea.

With the exception of Razak Ibrahim and Razak Pimpong, all four footballers in the throwback photo gained prominence in world football.

Portia Arthur