Ibrahim Tanko, the head coach of the Black Meteors, is placing his trust in the invited Black Stars players to bolster his team as they gear up for the upcoming U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco later this month.
In preparation for the tournament, Ghana faced Egypt in a friendly match at the Alexandria Stadium, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Daniel Afriyie Barnieh opened the scoring for Ghana with a penalty kick, earned by Issahaku in the early stages of the game. Despite missing a penalty of their own earlier, the Egyptians managed to equalize later in the match.
Ibrahim Tanko expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance, commending them for holding on until full-time despite being reduced to ten men. He also highlighted the positive impact that players such as Ernest Nuamah, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Ransford-Yeboah, who are currently training with the Black Stars for their AFCON qualifier against Madagascar, will have on the U-23 side. Tanko believes that their presence will strengthen the team and contribute to its improvement.
“I think those who played did very well. We are still waiting for those who are with the senior national team. That will make us very strong again. But I’m very impressed with the performance today. To secure a 1-1 draw while playing with a man down from around the 70th minute is commendable. We are very happy,” Ibrahim Tanko stated after the match.
With one more match left to play before heading to Morocco for the tournament, the Black Meteors are focused on fine-tuning their strategies and ensuring that the team is well-prepared. The U-23 AFCON presents an opportunity for Ghana to showcase their talents and compete against other top African nations in their quest for success.
Tanko and his coaching staff will continue working with the players, incorporating the talents and experiences of the Black Stars’ invitees, to build a formidable team for the U-23 AFCON. The tournament will serve as a platform for the young Ghanaian players to showcase their abilities and potentially earn recognition on both the national and international stages. The Black Meteors are determined to make a mark and achieve their goals in the upcoming competition.
Source- 3news.com
