Ghana U-20 captain Lawrence Lartey

By Ameenu Shardow

Ghana’s U-20 captain Lawrence Lartey insists the team was sure of qualification even when under the cosh against Morocco.

The Black Satellites needed to dig deep to secure a third straight qualification to the African Youth Championships in Rabat last Sunday.

Ghana found themselves down by two goals very early in the first half at which point the team faced a real danger of elimination.

The 2009 U-20 World champions were protecting a 4-1 advantage secured in the first leg encounter in Tamale but were all of a sudden against it within the first ten minutes of the game against the Atlas Cubs on Sunday.

However, a much needed strike by winger Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi turned the tie back in Ghana’s favour even though they eventually conceded a late strike through a dubiously awarded free kick.

But Lartey remains adamant the team was not panicking even during the period they were under immense pressure from the Moroccans.

“Not at all because it was then 2-1 and they got the goal in the dying minutes,” the AshGold defender told GHANAsoccernet.com.

“We thought to ourselves we needed to make an extra effort but after passing the ball to restart the game, the referee blew his whistle.”

Ghana now joins seven other countries that will be entered into a draw to determine members of the two-grouped competition at the finals to be hosted by Algeria in March next year.