Desmond Ofei, head coach of the Black Satellites, is already turning his attention towards qualifying for the U-20 World Cup, mere days after securing gold at the African Games.

In a thrilling final at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Black Satellites clinched victory over Uganda, with Jerry Afriyie's late goal sealing the gold medal in the men’s football event, marking Ghana's first medal in men’s football at the African Games in over a decade.

Reflecting on the achievement in an interview with 3Sports, Ofei expressed pride, stating, “We are very proud of this achievement. We are happy we added an extra gold to the country’s tally.”

However, Ofei acknowledged the challenges of coaching at this level in Africa, emphasizing the intensity of the experience.

“I need some good rest. It’s been intense. It’s my first time working in Africa on this level. It’s not easy because I coach with passion and give everything. It took a lot but now I have to go back and get enough energy.

I have to get back with my family; my wife and kids,” he shared candidly.

Despite Ghana's absence from the last U20 AFCON and their last appearance at the U20 World Cup dating back to 2005, Ofei exudes confidence in the team's ability to qualify for the 2025 global showpiece.

“Personally it’s day by day, step by step, and competition by competition. For us, the most important competition now is the WAFU because we really want to partake in the next World Cup which takes place in 2025," Ofei explained.

He outlined the team's upcoming objectives, highlighting the importance of the WAFU tournament in October. “We still have a lot of work to do. Now we have a good base and we can build on it.

The next objective is the WAFU in October. We will prepare well and scout extensively to get all the hidden gems to come and help the team progress to the World Cup,” he concluded optimistically.