Ghana’s quest for U-20 AFCON glory has been dealt a significant blow as rising star Jerry Afriyie has returned to his Spanish club, CD Lugo, and will miss the Black Satellites’ crucial final Group C match against the Central African Republic in Egypt.

The 18-year-old forward, who played in Ghana’s first two group matches, left the team camp on Wednesday morning following a mutual agreement between the Ghana Football Association and CD Lugo. The Spanish side, currently fighting to avoid relegation in Spain’s lower divisions, had initially shown reluctance to release the talented attacker. However, they ultimately honoured Afriyie’s passionate desire to represent his country—albeit for a limited time.

Afriyie made the most of his short stint at the tournament. He came off the bench in Ghana’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo and was instrumental in the Black Satellites’ 1-0 win over defending champions Senegal, delivering a pinpoint assist for Emmanuel Mensah’s match-winning goal.

His departure now leaves head coach Desmond Ofei with a tactical puzzle to solve ahead of a high-stakes clash. Afriyie’s creativity, speed, and flair have been key to Ghana’s attack, and his absence will be sorely felt in the final group decider.

Ghana still stand a good chance of advancing to the knockout phase, but they’ll need to adapt quickly without one of their brightest attacking sparks. Back in Spain, Afriyie returns to CD Lugo with added confidence and continental experience, hoping to play a decisive role in the club’s relegation battle.