The Black Satellites’ world cup campaign ended with ignominy this morning when Mali dished out a humiliating 3-0 defeat to the team.

Diadie Samassekou, Diedonne Gbakle and Aboubabacar Doumbia, all scored breathtaking goals that gave Lawrence Ati little chance, but also killed Ghana’s morale and ended our impressive run of a quarter final at every U-20 world cup appearance.

Ghana went into the game as huge favourites due to our record at this level, but some changes made to the starting line up by Sellas restricted the flow of the team. Lanky striker Benjamin Tetteh was benched in favour of Boateng, who scored Ghana’s lone goal in the previous win over Panama.

Mali started the stronger of the two sides, and with physical superiority and superb close control they kept Ghana on the back foot. They manufactured the better chances of the first half, culminating in a very well worked goal finished by Diadie Samassekou.

Ghana couldn’t get a footing the rest of the half, but improved at the beginning of the 2nd half. Tetteh’s changes, including throwing on Attobrah and Benjamin Tetteh, as well as moving Aboagye a little further forward led to some chances created for the team.

Mali then scored again, a beautiful shot by Gbakle during Ghana’s best spell of the game. His left footed shot hit just below the upright and into the net, leaving Lawrence Ati little chance of saving the ball.

A deflated Satellites then could muster little in the way of a response, until Doumbia’s coup de grace. The Black Satellites hence exits the world cup with a whimper, hounded out by a team who outplayed and outsmarted them in every department of the game.

U-20 World Cup Round of 16 results….

Ghana 0-3 Mali

Serbia 2-1 Hungary

USA 1-0 Columbia

Watch the Black Satellites humiliation below….

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCbC5Mxo8FI