Ghana Under-20s Back To Clubs After Successful World Cup Campaign

Many members of the national Under-20 side who helped Ghana clinch the trophy now have to snap out of the party mood and contribute their quota at club level as the season nears the business end.

The likes of inspirational captain Dede Ayew and top striker Ransford Osei have all returned to their bases in France and Holland respectively, eager to ensure that they can build on the success at youth level and enhance their club careers.

Ayew is on loan at Arles-Avignon, but has his eye on a return to Olympic de Marseille, while Osei wants to impress Twente boss Steve McClaren, who will decide whether he is worthy of a long-term deal when his loan spell expires.

Other members of the U-20s were thrown into the deep-end the moment the tournament finished. While his colleagues were going on bus tours in Accra, Samuel Inkoom took the first available flight out of the capital and played for 90 minutes on Thursday night as Basle beat CSKA Sofia 2-0 away from home to go top of their Europa League Group.

“It wasn’t easy to leave all the partying behind after winning the World Cup but it’s not worth making excuses for things like this,” he told KickOffGhana.com. “The club gave me a special reception and I am glad I have slotted back in effortlessly.”

Left-back David Addy was another player who headed out of Accra early and expects to play a major role when Randers take on Odense in the Danish League this weekend.

In the Ghana Premier League, goalkeeper Daniel Agyei could make a return for Liberty Professionals when they take Berekum Chelsea.

Daniel Addo could go straight back into the King Faisal squad for their game against Hasaacas in Kumasi, while Wa All Stars can count on the duo of Bright Addae and Robert Dadubo for their trip to Berekum to face Arsenals.

But it’s not back to business for all the players. Top scorer of the competition Dominic Adiyiah was given a hero’s welcome in Offinso on Friday, with school kids lining the streets.

On Thursday, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, who struck the winning penalty, got a hero’s welcome in his home constituency of Tain with a durbar, gifts of sheep, goats and five plots of land.