Ghana national U20 head coach, Abdul Karim Zito, is optimistic the Black Stars can beat Portugal in the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The two countries will go into battle on Thursday, November 24, at the Stadium 974 in Doha in a Group H game and the veteran gaffer is confident Ghana can get the win.

"Ghana vs Portugal will be an interesting game because the recent victory over Switzerland has boosted the morale of the Ghanaian players," Zito told Times Sport in an exclusive interview.

"The front line of Inaki, Kudus and Ayew will deliver. All they have to do is to be disciplined on the field and play to instructions. Now Otto Addo has gotten his team after the trial matches. I believe they will deliver. The target now is to equal the quarter final record of 2010 or go beyond that."

The experienced coach is the best when it comes to youth development in Ghana. He had his training at the prestigious Feyenoord Academy in the Netherlands.

Out of the 26 Ghana Black Stars players in Qatar, Zito trained five: Mohammed Salisu, Baba Rahman, Fatawu Issahaku, Afriyie Barnieh and Danlad Ibrahim, either at juvenile league level or the Ghana junior national teams. Zito is proud of his boys as they continue to excel at the biggest stage.

"Seeing players I groomed at youth level in the Black Stars makes me so happy. It is getting to 10 years now, and each time I see about three or more players I developed in the senior national team set up."

"I have five players I groomed currently in the Black Stars team in Qatar, Baba Rahman, Mohammed Salisu, Fatawu Issahaku, Ibrahim Danlad and Afriyie Barnieh. They have all spoken to me from Qatar and I have given them my advise. Insha Allah I know they will make Ghana proud."

Zito who coaches the Ghana national U20 team also doubles as the technical director of Ghana Premier League club Dreams FC. He was the coach of the Ghana team which won the U20 AFCON in Mauritania in January 2022