Black Satellites winger Benjamin Tsivanyo has expressed confidence that Ghana will respond positively from their opening defeat when they face Burkina Faso in a crucial Group B clash at the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship on Thursday.
Ghana's campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 4-2 defeat to Nigeria on Monday at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, leaving the Black Satellites under pressure to secure all three points to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Despite the setback, Tsivanyo says the mood within the squad remains upbeat, insisting the players have already turned their attention to the must-win encounter.
"We didn't plan to lose the match against Nigeria, but unfortunately it has happened already. It is part of the game. It is how we handle that defeat that matters going forward.
"The winger believes the defeat has served as a valuable learning experience for the team, highlighting areas that require improvement while reinforcing the squad's resilience.
The winger believes the loss has provided valuable lessons for the team and revealed there is a renewed determination within the camp to improve their performances.
"Our heads are up; we are not going to give up because we know you can't win all matches. The defeat tells us that we have more room for improvement."
Looking ahead to the clash with Burkina Faso, Tsivanyo acknowledged the quality of Ghana's opponents but maintained that the Black Satellites are fully prepared for the challenge.
"We know the Burkinabè are really strong. But we're fully prepared. We have absolutely no choice but to win this game because we need the points."
A victory would revive Ghana's hopes of progressing to the knockout stage after their opening-day defeat, while another setback would leave the Black Satellites facing an uphill task in the competition.
The decisive Group B encounter is scheduled to kick off at 18:00 GMT.
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