World Youth champions, Ghana, begun their campaign with a 4-0 drubbing of minnows Namibia at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium.
It was an action-packed game as strikers Mahatma Otoo and Frank Acheampong with midfielder Abdul Aziz Yusif got the goals for Coach Orlando Wellington's Satellites.
Skipper Mahatma Otoo headed home a Frank Acheampong's cross under two minutes. King Faisal's Frank Opoku Acheampong the architect of the first goal, added the second on the sixteenth minute.
Substitute Abdul Razak Yusif got the third with his first touch and Frank Acheampong snatched a personal brace midway through the second half.
The Satellites went into the game with the success of their predecessors at the back of their minds. Few though, expectations were high from the fans that thronged the stadium that hosted a national team game way back last year.
Coach Orlando fielded a team that included very few graduates from the unsuccessful U-17 side two year ago. France-based Kwame Nsor, goalkeeper Ben Acheampong, Abdul Aziz Yusif were the only players handed a starting role from that team. Talented Aaron Amoah watched proceedings from the bench until he came on later as a sub.
Genoa striker Richmond Boakye Yiadom and James Bissue from Israel were among the starters. Hearts of Oaks' Karim Alhassan partnered Bright Addae in defence.
The game started amidst hot-scorching sun but that was not a deterrent for a prospective and a more talented side hungry for success.
It was Mahatma Otoo who had the first real opportunity in the game. The skipper fired well but his shot deflected an opponent and the resulting spill was skied by Kwame Nsor. A strong wind they say is a recipe for rain. The Namibians had very little time to settle before their weakness was exposed.
Enoch Ebo Andoh a member from last year's successful squad drilled his way through the Namibians back line, located Frank Acheampong who delivered a well tailored cross for Mahatma to curl with his head to the top right corner of the net.
Our visitors sensing the danger ahead, withdrew men back and tightened their defence. Coach Orlando assigned Boakye a midfield role and moved Nsor to the left flanks. It took barely a quarter of an hour for another goal to be registered.
Another header, but this time from the left. Ebo Andoh produced some wizardry down the wings. He teased three defenders and sent in a lofty cross for his team-mate at club level to knock home the second goal.
Twice behind in just twenty minutes, Namibia opened up the game searching for a goal to half the deficit. Their limit however was in the midfield as they rarely threatened the goal area of the Ghanaians. In fact they did that on only two occasions in the first half.
The first one was a feeble shot that Ben Acheampong grabbed with basic goalkeeping skill. The second time was an infringement on Ben Acheampong.
There was very little action to report for the rest of the first half as the Satellites attack seem to have broken down. Kwame Nsor was far less than conformable on the left side of attack. And Boakye's positioning in the midfield further weakened the attack and injected some confidence into the visitors' backline.
Osman Tall, the Senegalese match official was the talk of the second half as supporters unhappy with some of his decisions booed him. Even to the point of hurling sacked water at his assistant referee.
Mahatma had his header ruled offside on the 68th minute. Karim Alhassan delivered a thunderous free kick from thirty yards which the Namibian goalie's best was to parry. His effort bounced and fell on the way of the onrushing Mahatma who together with Frank Acheampong and Richmond Boakye were offside, headed the ball into the yawning net. But the linesman had other ideas as celebrations were cut short.
Wellington pulled out the all running James Bissue and brought on Abdul Aziz whose first touch was nothing but a header to send the fans to their feet in jubilation. A corner from the left, a neat header and a goal. Aziz's header was initially denied by the goal poles. It bounced against a confused defender and in the head of a nervy goalie, crossed the line for the third.
Coach Orlando infected the next substitution moments later. Brought on the talented Aaron Amoah for Richmond Boakye much to the displeasure of the about 20,000 supporters who preferred a tired-looking Nsor to take a rest.
On the 81st minute, the fourth and the final goal arrived. It was a corner from the right. Well delivered and well cracked in by Acheampong. 4-0.
There was little time for the Ghanaians to add the fifth as the Namibians seemed content with the scoreline. They passed the ball among themselves well for the remaining minutes.
Mahatma fired wide in time added on.
Fans left the stadium satisfied with the teams performance but missed the another Ayew who was not allowed to report for national duty.
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