Ofei, who also doubles as assistant coach of the Black Stars, will be assisted by former international Yaw Preko and Baba Nuhu Malam.

The technical team has been further strengthened with Montari Tagoe as goalkeepers’ coach and Atta Yeboah, Welfare Officer at Aduana Stars, taking up the role of Team Manager.

Other appointments include Henry Bart-Plange as Team Masseur and Baba Aluta of Aduana Stars as Equipment Officer. Eli Vorgbe has also been named Video Analyst to boost performance analysis.

The medical team will be led by Dr. Eric Tetteh as Team Doctor, supported by physiotherapist Collins Annor.

Ofei replaces Kassim Mingle, who has been reassigned to handle the Black Galaxies.

The GFA expressed confidence that the revamped setup will deliver the technical and medical support needed to enhance the Black Meteors’ competitiveness as they prepare for upcoming international tournaments.

The Meteors last qualified for the Olympic Games in 2004, and the new technical direction is expected to rekindle hopes of ending the two-decade absence.

His call comes in the wake of the Black Satellites’ recent elimination from the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

Ghana exited the tournament at the quarterfinal stage after a dramatic 2-2 draw with host nation Egypt, followed by a narrow 5-4 loss in the penalty shootout, ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

Despite the disappointment, Minister Adams expressed strong confidence in the potential of the team. Speaking during a meeting with the Ghana Olympic Committee, he emphasized the importance of continuity and development.

“[Ghana’s] U-20 team painfully exited from the African Championships at the quarterfinal stage; that team is a very good team,” said Adams, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for the Buem Constituency.

“I believe that it is a team that, with a few additions, can grow into a formidable U-23 side capable of competing for Olympic qualification,” he added.

Coach Ocansey brings a wealth of experience to the role, having had a distinguished career in coaching with club sides Accra Great Olympics, Bechem United, and Nations FC, where he is currently the Head Coach. Coach Kassim Mingle, as he is popularly called, has also coached extensively at the Academy, Colts, and second-tier levels of Ghana Football—experiences that have equipped him with a deep understanding of how to develop talent from a very early age.

With a passion for nurturing young talent, Coach Kassim Mingle is the ideal candidate to lead the Black Meteors in their quest to regain their past glory.

The team, which was the first African nation to win an Olympic medal in football at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, is seeking to rediscover its footing as a powerhouse at this level in world football.

Coach Kassim Ocansey had a very active footballing career, playing for then-top-tier teams Dumas Boys of GTP, GIHOC Stars, Sekondi Eleven Wise, and Accra Standfast over a period of eight years.

The Ghana Football Association is confident that Coach Ocansey’s expertise and experience will be invaluable in building a formidable Black Meteors team that will ultimately be successful.

Essu, who was part of Ghana’s team which beat Algeria in the final round of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers has been dealing with a serious medical issue for some time.

The urgency of the matter came to the known after a letter from the goalkeeper to then-Black Meteors coach Ibrahim Tanko demanding his winning bonuses from the Algeria game went viral.

There was concern that his condition would eventually be beyond repair following the death of his Legon Cities teammate Sylvester Sackey, also a goalkeeper who passed on after battling with a short illness.

However, the Black Meteors players have responded swiftly to the issue with a cash donation hoping to see the player back on his feet as fit as a fiddle.

The donation follows that of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Foundation’s GH¢10,000 support to the shot-stopper as well as a notable donation from the Nicholas Opoku foundation.

The player was earlier visited by the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), an entity which seeks the welfare of professional Ghanaian footballers.

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His comment comes after Ghana suffered an early elimination. The Black Meteors finished third in Group A with four points.

Ghana opened their campaign with a 3-2 win against Congo before suffering a 5-1 defeat against Morocco.

The team needed a win against Guinea in their final group game to secure a place in the last four but were held to a 1-1 draw.

The exit means the Black Meteors will not compete at next year’s Paris Olympic Games.

According to Saint Osei, he is confident his side Great Olympics, who are two-time Ghana Premier League champions, would have displayed a much better outing than the Meteors did at the tournament.

He expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of the various national teams in the last couple of months.

“We always create the impression that all is well with our national teams, but all is not well,” he told Citi Sports.

“What I have studied in the past is that, we do not pay attention to details, including our coaches when it comes to tournaments.

“When we won our first match against Congo, for me it wasn’t the time for our coaches to go and sleep, because Congo was a tough side, in fact, all the teams we faced are better sides.

“So I was expecting that till the last whistle is blown, then we will have the opportunity to celebrate and do something else.

“Now every nation is playing football, not like in the past where we were running past nations with ease, so I think it is about time our technical handlers give details to football and ensure that every department of the game has the necessary attention.

“Look at the goals we conceded against Morocco, it is not something that should have happened.

“Seriously, my Club Great Olympics wouldn’t have been humiliated like this, I am telling you.

“Errors that were created were not supposed to be done by this particular team, it is very sad,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Management Committee Chairman of the Black Meteors, Frederick Acheampong, has confirmed that the team has been dissolved after the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations exit.

Ghana’s last participation at the Olympic Games was in 2004 in Greece Athens under former Portuguese trainer Mariano Barreto, where the Black Meteors were paired with Paraguay, Italy and Japan.

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Ghana, who were on a quest to secure a place in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, recorded a 3-2 victory over Congo but succumbed to a 5-1 defeat to hosts Morocco.

The Black Meteors needed a win to make it to the last four of the tournament but were held to a 1-1 draw against Guinea in their final group game.

With four points from three games, the Black Meteors exited the campaign in the group stages and subsequently missed out on the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris.

Following the conclusion of the group games, the technical team of CAF has named the best XI of the group stage.

Despite the Meteors’ abysmal display, Emmanuel Yeboah scored three goals but missed out in the team.

The team is largely dominated by players from Morocco and Egypt.

In post is Egypt’s Hamza Hussein who produced outstanding performances to keep three clean sheets.

Morocco’s Mehdi Boukamir, Abdelsalam from Egypt, and Mali’s Ibrahima Cisse formed the back three in a 3-4-3 formation.

In midfield, Ismael Saibari from Morocco and Ibrahim Mohamed from Egypt were ably supported by the Malian duo of Fode Doucoure and Cheickna Diakite as wingbacks.

Completing the front three are Egypt’s Osama Abdelhady and Morocco’s duo of Yanis Begraoui and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.

Morocco’s Issam Charai was named the Best Coach for guiding his side to three victories.

Below is the team:

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Tanko, who is the technical director for Accra Lions, took charge of the team in 2019 but failed to make it to the Olympic Games by finishing fourth in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The former Ghana international was again given the mandate to do better in the ongoing AFCON which is being held in Morocco but recorded worse results as the team got eliminated in the group stage having finished 3rd with four points in Group A.

However, Frederick Acheampong, who is the Chairman of the Black Meteors speaking to 3Sports on 3FM, revealed that Tanko is in a similar condition as national team footballers who are not paid salaries but allowances and bonuses.

“No [Ibrahim Tanko doesn’t receive a salary for coaching the Black Meteors]. Because he works for his club so just like the footballers who play for the national team they work for their clubs so they only earn per diem based on the number of days they have been in camp and are also only paid winning bonuses when they win a match,” he said.

He, however, refuted claims suggesting the coach could get influenced due to the absence of monthly salaries.

“I’ve known Tanko for a number of years and I’ve known his integrity. He is someone I can trust and will not be influenced by any money despite not being paid monthly,” he added.

Ghana opened their campaign with a 3-2 win against Congo before suffering a 5-1 defeat against Morocco.

Tanko and his charges needed a win against Guinea to qualify for the last four but were held to a 1-1 draw to exit the tournament.

Ghana’s failure to make it to the next Olympic Games due to their early exit from the AFCON means their wait will be prolonged to at least 24 years having last participated at the quadrennial event in 2004.

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Ghana’s U-23 side were on a quest of securing qualification to the Olympic Games that would be hosted in Paris next year.

Having secured a shaky 3-2 win over Congo in their opener, the Black Meteors suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat against the host country, Morocco.

Ahead of their final Group A game against Guinea, Ghana needed a win to qualify for the last four and hopefully be part of the last three that will qualify for the Olympics.

However, the Black Meteors were held to a 1-1 draw. The results mean Ghana exits the tournament and will not play at the Olympic Games next year.

Speaking on the future of the technical team led by Ibrahim Tanko with assistance from Godwin Attram and Michael Osei, Acheampong said the ultimate aim was to qualify for the Olympics but after the failure, the technical team and the playing body will be dissolved.

“This team was put together for the purpose of qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and we failed to qualify so obviously, it will be dissolved,” he told Nhyira FM.

“If it happens that Executive Council will discuss and consider another appointment or want the coach to continue, that will be in the powers of the Executive Council. I am not in the position to say whether they will continue or not because I don’t make the appointment in terms of the national teams. It is the decision of the Executive Council.

“The team stands dissolved because we failed to qualify for the Olympic Games and we don’t have any tournaments coming up next year,” he added.

Ghana finished their group with four points. The last time the Black Meteors played in the Olympic Games was in 2004 in Athens in Greece.

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Despite securing a 3-2 victory against Congo, Ghana conceded a total of eight goals in three games.

In their second match of the tournament, the U-23 team faced Morocco and suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat.

Their journey came to an end on Friday night after a 1-1 draw against Guinea in their final game, despite taking an early lead with a goal from Emmanuel Yeboah.

Gyan expressed his disappointment with the team’s lack of urgency and commitment to the tournament.

In a social media post and an interview with Asempa FM on Ultimate Sports, he highlighted the noticeable issues he observed during the games.

Gyan pointed out instances where the Black Meteors were vulnerable to counterattacks, with few defenders present while others lagged behind.

He also noticed a lack of cohesion and aggressiveness in winning back possession when the team lost the ball.

Although Gyan refrained from mentioning specific players in his tweet, he emphasized that his critique was not personal and that the players themselves were aware of their performances.

Gyan stressed that the team possessed talented individuals but lacked the proper approach and strategy to succeed.

The early elimination of the Black Meteors from the U-23 AFCON also means that they will miss out on qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

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Ghana’s U-23 side was eliminated from the competition after finishing third in Group A behind hosts Morocco and Guinea.

The Black Meteors needed a win in their final group game against Guinea on Friday but were held to a 1-1 draw to exit the tournament.

Ghana opened their campaign with a nerve-wracking 3-2 win over Congo before suffering an embarrassing 5-1 defeat against the host country.

The exit means the Black Meteors will not participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Ghana’s delegation comprising players, technical staff and team officials left Morocco on Sunday evening and arrived in Accra early on Monday.

The technical team is expected to submit its tournament report to the GFA’s Executive Council for assessment.

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Ghana, who were hoping to secure a win against Guinea in their final Group A game to secure a place in the last four, were held 1-1 after 90 minutes of action.

The results mean the Black Meteors failed to advance to the semifinals.

Despite starting the tournament with a 3-2 win over Congo, the Black Meteors were defeated 5-1 by Morocco.

Following Friday’s result, Tanko openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the Black Meteors’ overall performance.

He admitted that Ghana did not have the same level of quality as some of the tournament’s strongest teams.

“Yes, everybody saw it, definitely we are not the best in this tournament when it comes to quality but we are definitely working hard as a country,” Tanko said.

“The FA is trying to change something but definitely we have to do more like you said.

“When you look at the game against Egypt (pre-tournament friendly) and today, you could see that yes, I think we need to catch up otherwise it’s going to be too late,” he added.

The results mean the Black Meteors have no place in the 2024 Olympics that will be held in Paris.

Ghana conceded eight goals while scoring five, finishing third in Group A behind Morocco and Guinea, who have advanced to the final four and have a chance of qualifying for the Olympic Games.

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Ghana, who needed a win to make it to the semifinals of the tournament and possibly make it to the Olympics in Paris next year, were crashed out after a 1-1 draw against Guinea in their final Group A game on Friday night.

The former Ghana captain, who recently announced his retirement, wrote on Twitter, “What I saw in this Black Meteors team is some players think they are bigger than the whole team. Small hype and fame? SHM.

“Modern football is not about only what you do with the ball. It’s about what you do without the ball. I see players thinking they can play alone. It’s about time we wake up and defend when we lose the ball. SMH.”

Emmanuel Yeboah, the talented forward from CFR Cluj, capitalised on a series of defensive errors by Guinea, showcasing his skills with a superb finish to give Ghana the lead.

However, Ghana’s defensive woes persisted, as they conceded their eighth goal in just three games. In the 60th minute, Ibrahima Breze’s well-executed volley earned Guinea a well-deserved equaliser.

Ghana opened their campaign with a nerve-wracking 3-2 win over Congo before suffering a humiliating 5-1 defeat against Morocco.

By the time the 2024 Olympic Games are held in Paris, it will be 20 years since the Black Meteors last participated in the multi-sport competition.

Ghana on Friday evening suffered an elimination following a 1-1 draw against Guinea in their final group game.

The team needed a win to make it to the last four of the tournament as they seek to return to the Olympic Games since 2004.

“I think we disappointed Ghanaians and ourselves but we give thanks to God in every situation and like I said we will analyze and know what didn’t go well,” Tanko said in a post-match press conference.

Morocco and Guinea qualified from Group A with Ghana and Congo exiting at the group phase.

Despite both teams entering the match with three points, Guinea held the advantage with a superior goal difference, knowing that a draw would secure their progression.

Forward Emmanuel Yeboah capitalised on a series of defensive errors by Guinea, showcasing his skills with a superb finish to give Ghana the lead.

However, Ghana’s defensive woes persisted, as they conceded their eighth goal in just three games. In the 60th minute, Ibrahima Breze’s well-executed volley earned Guinea a well-deserved equaliser.

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Ghana had a brilliant opening five minutes, dominating possession, but that quickly diminished after the five minutes.

They gave away the ball very easily and looked unaware of the task at hand as they almost gave away another cheap goal around the 26th minute.

However, Emmanuel Yeboah scored brilliantly from the right side of the box after Ghana’s real first meaningful string of passes in the 33rd minute with an assist from Fatawu Issahaku.

Despite Ghana’s lead, Guinea still looked the most dangerous side with a lot of cohesive football and threatening to level but Ghana held on to go into the break with the advantage.

After recess, Guinea deservedly got the equalizer in the 60th minute from a long-range strike by Ibrahim Fofana who converted a first-time shot from a rebound.

Ibrahim Tanko’s side threw everything they had at Guinea for that elusive winner but it never came.

Not being able to reach the semifinal also means Ghana’s hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games are over.

The Black Meteors finished third in the group with 4 points behind Morocco (9 points) and Guinea (4 points).

Guinea, who have qualified on goal difference have joined Morocco from Group A to qualify for the semifinals.

Ghana opened their campaign with a nerve-wracking 3-2 win over Congo. In their second group game, the West African country were hoping to book an early semifinal qualification but suffered a 5-1 defeat against the host country, Morocco.

The Black Meteors, who now sit 3rd in Group A with three points, will take on Guinea later tonight at the Ibn Batouta Stadium.

Speaking ahead of the game, Bobbie ascribed that Ghana football is in decline and that flaws are visible, but the public are desperate for a trophy.

“Where our soccer has reached, everyone knows we have a lot of problems. I will admit. We are hungry for the cup but if you don’t have a solid team how do you win the cup? So we have had discussions and we will hold a meeting with FA when we get home,” he told Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV on YouTube.

“We have to have a discussion in Ghana involving all stakeholders and all the players in the sports industry. We need to have a sit-down and have a detailed discussion, including the ministry, the FA, the Sports journalist, and everyone in the industry so that we can figure out a way (to solve the issues),” he added.

He further shared his experience following a visit to Morocco’s national team facilities dubbed the Kings Sports Complex and questioned how the Meteors would win the trophy without doing through a proper project and structure.

“I had the privilege to visit the Kings Sports Complex. It is a solid, massive infrastructure. The young ones that beat us 5-1 were there. They camp the national teams there, U-17 has their hotel, U-20, and so on. So I realized that the result they got against us is because of what they have done over there…At the moment, the country wants a cup but how do you get the cup without proper preparation and a solid foundation? How? So what I will tell the people who are hungry for Cup is that the preparation to win the Cup is very weak,” he added.

Meanwhile, Guinea, who are tied on the same points with Ghana – 3 points each, will be aiming for at least a draw to progress on goal difference.

Ghana are on a hunt for Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification to end their almost two-decade chase.

The game has been scheduled to kick off at 20:00GMT.

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Ghana opened their campaign with a nerve-wracking 3-2 win against Congo.

In the second Group A game against Morocco, Ibrahim Tanko and his side were hoping to secure an early qualification to the last four but suffered a shocking 5-1 defeat.

In the final game that is scheduled to be hosted at the Grande Stade De Tanger, the Black Meteors must win to keep their chances of securing a place in the last four and their ambitions of playing at the Olympics Games.

Morocco have already secured a place in the semis following their win over Ghana. Guinea, however, need a draw to make it to the last four.

Congo having suffered a defeat against Ghana and Guinea sit at the bottom of the log with no point.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Tanko has hinted that there will be changes in his starting XI against Guinea.

“We have watched and studied the Guinean team, and we have different players that can make up the best starting 11 for the match,” he told the press on Thursday.

“We will do some changes, and we hope these changes will help achieve our aims.

“We have no injury so far.

“We’ve had two days of rest, and we made good use of it.

“I am sure tomorrow everyone will be ready for the game,” he added.

Ghana are on a quest to return to the Olympic Games that will be held in Paris next year. The last time Ghana participated in the Men’s football games at the Olympics was in Athens in 2004.

The much-anticipated game has been scheduled to kick off at 20:00GMT.

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Ghana were hoping to secure an early spot in the last four of the tournament having opened their campaign with a 3-2 win over Congo but suffered a disheartening 5-1 defeat against Morocco in their second Group A game.

The Black Meteors must win against Guinea to advance in the tournament.

Speaking ahead of the game on Friday, Tanko hinted that there would be changes in the starting lineup and further added that they will devise a plan to secure a win and advance to the next round of the tournament.

“We have a lot of different players, and we have studied Guinea’s two games. We will certainly select the best eleven that we believe can defeat Guinea,” he said at the press conference on Thursday.

“We are going to implement some changes, and we believe that these changes will assist us in achieving our goal. It is of utmost importance to us because a win will guarantee our progression to the next stage.

“We will devise a strategy to secure the victory and advance,” he added.

The much-anticipated game has been scheduled to kick off at 20:00GMT at the Grand Stade Tanger.

Ghana are on a quest to return to the Olympic Games that will be held in Paris next year. The last time Ghana participated in the Men’s football games at the Olympics was in Athens in 2004.

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Ghana, who are on a quest to secure Olympic Games qualification, faces Guinea in a must-win final Group A game at the Grande Stade De Tanger.

Tanko made three changes to his team that faced Morocco on Tuesday after Ghana’s opening-day victory against Congo.

And after suffering a 5-1 defeat against the host country, Tanko has promised to tweak his side once again to make the Guineans.

“We have watched and studied the Guinean team, and we have different players that can make up the best starting 11 for the match. We will do some changes, and we hope these changes will help achieve our aims,” he told the press.

“We have no injury so far. We’ve had two days of rest, and we made good use of it.

“I am sure tomorrow everyone will be ready for the game,” he added.

The game is set to be played in Tangier with kickoff slated for 20:00 GMT.

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Ghana must win against Guinea to make it to the last four following their humiliating 5-1 defeat against Morocco on Tuesday.

Guinea sit second in Group A, level on the same points as Ghana and need just a draw to advance into the next stage.

After the team’s final training session at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Wednesday, Tanko addressed the media at the team’s camp in the Ibis Hotel in Rabat. 

While acknowledging the unpredictability of football, Tanko remained confident in Ghana’s capacity to earn the three points and advance.

“It’s football, and anything can happen, but I’m 100 per cent sure that we are going to have the three points and qualify,” Tanko said.

Ghana face Guinea on Friday at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, June 30, with kickoff set for 20:00 GMT.

Meanwhile, the team will leave Rabat for Tangier later today for the game.

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Ghana’s victory against Guinea is crucial for securing a spot in the semifinals of the ongoing U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following their disheartening 5-1 loss to Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Tuesday.

With both Ghana and Guinea currently holding three points in the group, the result places the hosts, Morocco, at the top.

Tanko acknowledged that Morocco’s extra day of rest had an impact on the game, but he remains confident in his team’s ability to qualify against Guinea.

Tanko pointed out that Congo faced a similar situation due to Guinea’s additional rest day, resulting in a challenging match for them.

However, with two days of preparation before their next game, Tanko believes his team will make effective use of the time.

Both Ghana and Guinea have equal chances of progressing to the next stage, prompting both teams to dedicate themselves to thorough preparations for the upcoming match.

Tanko emphasized their desire to win and secure qualification for the next stage.

The Black Meteors will depart from Rabat for Tangier later in the day, where the game will take place.

Ghana’s objective is to earn a spot in the Olympic Games scheduled to be held in Paris next year, marking a return to the prestigious event.

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The National U23 team will play their Guinean counterparts in the crunch encounter at Ibn Batouta Stadium on Friday, June 30, 2023.

Kick-off has been scheduled for 20:00GMT.

Ghana must win their final group game to make it to the last four of the tournament.

Ibrahim Tanko and his charges recorded a win against Congo in their opener before suffering a humiliating defeat against Morocco in their second group game.

In Tangier, the team will train at the Stadium Annex GST on Thursday at 20:00GMT.

Ghana is seeking to return to the Olympic Games scheduled to be hosted in Paris next year.

The last time the West African country played at the Olympics was in Athens in 2004.

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Ghana suffered a 5-1 defeat against the host country on Tuesday night in their second Group A game.

At the post-match conference, Tanko says his outfit’s heavy defeat is as a result of too much respect being given to the opponent.

“I mean the bad performance of us as I said earlier. I think we gave them a lot of respect.

“It’s not an excuse but we had a day rest and Morocco two and you could see also from the game against Guinea and Congo how the scoreline was because Congo also had a day rest.

“We still have a chance in this tournament, we still have the last game so we are going to prepare for that,” he added.

Ghana must now win at all costs against Guinea to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Failure to beat Guinea will mean the Black Meteors will exit the U23 AFCON at the Group Stage, missing out on qualification for the Olympic Games in the process.

The game between Ghana and Guinea is scheduled to be played on Friday, June 30.

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Ghana will battle with the hosts on Tuesday night in the second group game in the ongoing 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Morocco came from behind to beat Guinea 2-1 in the opening game while Ghana secured a nerve-wracking 3-2 victory against Congo on Sunday.

Tanko says his side is determined to match Morocco with an awareness of the importance of the game.

He urged his players to play diligently throughout to obtain the desired result.

“We both won our first matches and so I expect a good match tomorrow. But we want to win,” Tanko said at the pre-match press conference.

“After a game like that [against Congo], it’s normal to voice out your feelings to the boys but it’s behind us now and we are ready for the game tomorrow.”

“The Moroccans have their strategy for the game and we equally have ours. We will train today and we know it will be a good game.”

“What is key is to make very less mistakes. We had a good game u til after the 90 mins. I will encourage my players to avoid mistakes,” he added.

Ghana will secure qualification to the next stage if they beat Morocco on Tuesday evening at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.

Kick-off for the game is scheduled at 20:00GMT.

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Ghana will be going head-to-head with the host nation in a crucial game that could secure their spot in the tournament’s semi-finals.

In their previous match, the Black Meteors scored three goals but conceded two late goals, which left Tanko disappointed.

However, he believes it was necessary to address their mistakes, and now the team is in a good state ahead of the Morocco clash.

Tanko shared with the media, “I expressed my feelings to the boys after the game against Congo, and now everything is good. We have prepared for the next game, and our focus is on track. We are cool and ready for the game against Morocco.”

Similar to Ghana, Morocco also emerged victorious in their opening match, coming from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Guinea. This puts both teams in a strong position to progress from the group if they win their encounter.

Tanko anticipates an exciting match between two teams eager to secure early progression to the next stage. He remarks, “We are looking forward to this game. Both teams have won their first match, and I am sure it’s going to be a good game. Both teams have their strategies for the second game.”

The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00GMT.

Following the game against Morocco, Ghana’s final group match will be against Guinea.

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The former Hearts of Oak striker received criticism for his uninspiring display during the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match against Congo on Sunday.

Barnieh was substituted at halftime, and his replacement, Emmanuel Yeboah, gained attention for scoring two goals, leading the Black Meteors to a 3-2 victory in their opening game.

Taylor attributes Barnieh’s decline in form to his struggles at the club level. Since joining FC Zurich in Switzerland, Barnieh has only played six games, two for the senior team and four for the U-21 team.

His difficulties in finding his footing there have contributed to his loss of form, which earned him a place in Ghana’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“He has lost focus on the field. Unless he receives proper psychological support, his performance could deteriorate even further. If you compare his previous performances to his current state, he may even fare worse than Adiyiah,” Taylor commented on Angel TV.

Taylor draws a parallel between Barnieh’s situation and that of Dominic Adiyiah, whose career took an unexpected downturn after his standout performance in the 2009 U-20 World Cup and subsequent move to AC Milan. Barnieh captained Ghana to victory in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania two years ago.

“Adiyiah’s situation was relatively better. Let’s consider how many matches Afriyie Barnieh has played since joining FC Zurich. We need to question what happened to him after his arrival in Zurich. He requires guidance to focus on moving forward and avoid dwelling on past glories. He is just starting out, which is why he needs to give more,” Taylor added.

Barnieh will have an opportunity to perform better today when the Black Meteors face the host country, Morocco, in their second Group A game. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT.

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Ghana on Sunday recorded their first win against Congo at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Ernest Nuamah broke the deadlock after a boring first half before substitute, Emmanuel Yeboah scored a brace.

However, the Congolese scored two quick goals to end the game 3-2.

And according to the Club Cluj forward, the Black Meteors will rise to the occasion as the tournament progresses.

“When I saw the opponents we were going to face, I was delighted because they are powerhouses of African football,” he said after the game.

“It is through such strong opposition that we progress. We couldn’t afford to falter today against Congo, and we will gain momentum as the tournament progresses,” he added.

Ghana, who sit top of Group A will take on host country, Morocco on Tuesday with kick-off scheduled at 20:00GMT.

Emmanuel Yeboah, the skilled striker from Club Cluj, stole the spotlight by netting two goals, propelling Ghana to triumph over their spirited opponents.

Seeking a return to the Olympic Games in Paris next year, Ghana initiated the game with vigor in the first half but struggled to find the back of the net.

Meanwhile, Congo posed a constant threat to Ghana’s goal, testing goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad on multiple occasions.

Following the halftime break, Emmanuel Yeboah and Hafiz Ibrahim substituted skipper Afriyie Barnieh and Sylvester Simba.

In the 50th minute, Ghana finally broke the deadlock when Ernest Nuamah, forward for FC Nordsjaelland, unleashed a splendid strike, aided by an assist from Emmanuel Yeboah.

Yeboah’s predatory instincts rewarded him with a well-deserved goal shortly thereafter. Two minutes later, Ghana was awarded a penalty, which Yeboah calmly converted, extending the Black Meteors’ lead to 3-0 with 10 minutes remaining.

However, in the final moments of the encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Ghana’s concentration faltered, allowing Congo to score two late goals.

Reich Kokolo found the net in the 92nd minute, followed by Yann Ngatse in the 93rd minute, intensifying the match’s finale.

Despite the late drama, the Black Meteors emerged victorious, kick-starting their U-23 AFCON campaign on a positive note.

Ghana, who now sit top of their group will now regroup and prepare for its second Group A game against host nation, Morocco on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

Ghana, who are on the quest of securing an Olympic spot next year, opened their 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations contest (AFCON) on Sunday.

The Black Meteors recorded a 3-2 win against Congo at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Ernest Nuamah and Emmanuel Yeboah scored the goals for Ghana’s U23 side.

Afriyie-Barnieh, speaking in an interview, said playing in that Olympic Game is the dream of every player because most international stars have previously participated.

According to him, the team is determined to work to ensure they secure a spot to play in Paris next year.

“It means a lot to me to participate in the Olympic Games because it is one of the biggest competitions in the world,” the FC Zurich striker said.

“It’s a competition that has seen a lot of stars participate in over the years,” he added.

Ghana, who sit top of their group, will take on Morocco in their second Group A game on Tuesday with kick-off scheduled at 20:00GMT.

A victory would secure the Black Meteors a spot in the semifinals of this competition.

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Despite securing a commanding 3-0 lead in the second half, the Black Meteors allowed their opponents to swiftly score two goals, dangerously close to equalizing the match.

Tanko expressed his anger during the post-match interview, lamenting his players’ inability to effectively manage the game and preserve their lead. “I am incredibly furious with my players. How could we allow the match to slip away like this?” he exclaimed.

The coach emphasized that his players appeared to have forgotten the significance of the tournament, expressing disappointment in their lack of concentration during the closing stages of the game.

Tanko highlighted the importance of improved focus and game management for the upcoming matches in the competition. “We will remind them of the objectives we must achieve and the significance of our presence here,” he asserted, underlining the necessity of maintaining a strong mindset and discipline on the field.

Despite his frustrations, Tanko acknowledged the positive aspects of his team’s performance, particularly praising the wingers for their creativity displayed in the attacking phases of the game. “I was pleased with the creativity demonstrated by our wingers.”

Ghana, currently leading their group, is set to face Morocco on Tuesday in their second Group A match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The National U23 team had pre-tournament camping in Egypt after weeks of training at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram.

The Black Meteors drew 1-1 with Egypt U23 and beat Zamalek 4-1 in two pre-tournament friendlies during the team’s stay in Egypt.

According to Coach Tanko, with the preparations they’ve had, his team is poised to achieve their objectives for the tournament.

“Our target is to qualify for the Olympic Games but of course, there is a trophy at stake so we want to win it too,” he said at the press on Saturday.

“Our preparations have been good. We started in Ghana and went to Egypt. Our objective is to qualify and to win the ultimate.”

He also mentioned that his technical team has also kept tabs on Ghana’s Group stage opponents.

“I was at the last edition of this competition in Egypt so I have an idea how it’s going to be. All the teams deserve to be here and I think it’s going to be a very good tournament,” he added.

Ghana will open its U-23 AFCON campaign on Sunday against Congo at the Prince Moulay Abdullah Stadium in Rabat.

The Black Meteors will then face hosts Morocco and Guinea in subsequent Group matches.

Nuamah earned a call-up to the senior national team, the Black Stars and was a substitute in the goalless draw against Madagascar in the 2023 AFCON qualifying match played on June 18, 2023.

The enterprising winger has arrived in the camp as the team prepares for their opening match of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations against Congo on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Nuamah was a player as the team secured qualification against Algeria in the final round of games.

His presence in camp will boost the team’s morale as they prepare for the opening game on Sunday.

The Black Meteors are poised to sail through the Group stage and make an appearance in the semis for one of the three slots at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The last time Ghana participated in the Olympic Games Men’s Soccer event was in 2004 in Athens.

Ghana will take on Morocco in their second Group A game on Tuesday before wrapping up their group games against Guinea.

Following Ghana’s qualification to the tournament, the West African country has been housed in Group A and will open its campaign against Congo on Sunday, June 25 at the Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex.

According to Tanko, booking a slot in Paris 2024 is the Black Meteors’ core objective although they won’t shy away from an opportunity to win the title if they get to the final.

Ghana’s football team last played at the Olympic Games during the 2004 edition which was held in Athens, Greece and the gaffer is keen on changing that trend.

“The target is to qualify to the Olympic games but there’s also a trophy at stake so we are going for the ultimate and in doing so we want to qualify for the Olympic games,” he told the Ghana FA website.

“We are here to do our job and the best for the nation but we also need the support of Ghanaians.”

Prior to arriving in Rabat on Wednesday night, the team was in Egypt for camping and Tanko added that they enjoyed a ‘good’ period.

“We had a very good training camp with two friendly games. We won one and drew one. I think the team is in very good shape and the players have improved very well. We used a different set of players in the two friendly matches because we want to give everyone a chance to show what they can do in the tournament,” he continued.

“I am very impressed with the second team that played against Zamalek and I believe we can form a good side for our first game and for the tournament. We are here with 26 players so we have to give everyone the chance to show what they can do in the tournament. So far all of them have shown that if given the chance they can do well in the tournament.”

The Black Meteors will take on host country, Morocco in their second group game before wrapping up their group games against Guinea.

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The team opened training camp in Cairo to prepare for the tournament which is scheduled to kick off from 24 June to 08 July 2023.

The Black Meteors, as part of their preparations, played against Egypt’s U-23 side, a game that ended 1-1 last week.

On Tuesday, Ibrahim Tanko and his charges recorded an impressive 4-1 win over Egyptian side, Zamalek to wrap up their preparations.

The Black Meteors, who are housed in Group A, will be based in Rabat for a larger part of the group stages where they will play Congo and Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium before leaving for Tangier to play Guinea.

Meanwhile, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer have pulled out from the squad for the tournament for various reasons.

The Black Stars players were named in the 29-man provisional squad for the tournament. However, youngster, Ernest Nuamah will team up with the rest of the squad in Rabat later today.

The Black Meteors will be hoping to be part of the three finalists who will get their tickets for the Summer Olympics in 2024 in Paris.

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The Black Meteors has opened a training camp in Egypt ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

CFR Cluj striker, Emmanuel Yeboah broke the deadlock on the 11th-minute mark.

But, Ghana was pegged back five minutes later.

Yeboah scored two more before the 42nd-minute mark to send Ghana cruising to an impressive 3-1 lead.

Emmanuel Appau added another goal before half-time to make it 4-1 for Ghana, which they held on in the second half to send a strong warning to their opponents ahead of the U-23 AFCON which will be hosted in Morocco from June 24 to July 8, 2023.

Ibrahim Tanko and his charges recorded a 1-1 drawn game against Egypt’s U-23 side in their first preparatory game.

Tuesday’s match marked their second friendly encounter since arriving in Egypt, and the team displayed brilliance on the field by scoring four goals against their opponents, boosting morale within the camp in the lead-up to the tournament.

Romania-based striker Emmanuel Yeboah stole the spotlight with an impressive hat trick, while Emmanuel Apau, also known as Bibiani Messi, contributed with the fourth goal.

Tanko will be pleased with the impressive performance of his side ahead of the tournament.

The team will depart Cairo on Wednesday for the tournament in Rabat. Ghana have been housed in Group A alongside Morocco, Guinea and Congo.

Black Meteors have set their sights on securing a top-three finish in the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which would grant them qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris next year.

Their campaign will commence on Sunday, June 25, with a match against Congo, followed by games against Morocco on June 27 and Guinea on June 30.

The Black Stars players were named in Black Meteors’ 29-man provisional squad for the tournament.

Kamaldeen and Ransford-Yeboah were among the three players from the Black Stars squad expected to join the Black Meteors on Wednesday after their involvement in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match against Madagascar on Sunday, June 18 but have withdrawn from the squad.

Ernest Nuamah, who made his debut against Madagascar will join the team in Morocco ahead of the tournament.

Kamaldeen played for Ghana in the game against Madagascar, featuring for 62 minutes before being substituted by Nuamah. Ransford-Yeboah, on the other hand, did not take part in the match.

According to reports, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) were unsuccessful in persuading their respective clubs to release them for the competition, which is not sanctioned by FIFA.

Ghana have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Guinea, and DR Congo, with the tournament set to commence on Saturday, June 24.

Meanwhile, the Black Meteors will take on Egyptian side, Zamalek in their final preparatory games later today before departing for Rabat on Wednesday.

The Black Meteors will be hoping to be part of the three finalists who will secure tickets for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

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“The Black Meteors will face Egyptian giants Zamalek FC in a friendly match at the Zamalek Sports Complex,” the Ghana Football Association said in a statement.

“The test game will be played on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 5:30 pm (2:30 pm GMT),” read the statement.

The match against Zamalek is supposed to be Ghana’s last preparatory game before they set off to Morocco later for the competition which starts on Saturday.

In their first preparatory game, the Black Meteors held Egypt to a 1-1 draw last Thursday at the Alexandria Stadium.

Kamaldeen Sulemana, Enerst Nuamah and Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer who were part of the Black Stars squad will team up with the rest of the team later today ahead of the tournament.

Ghana have been housed in Group A alongside Morocco, Guinea and Congo.

The U23 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2023 will take place between 24 June to 08 July 2023 in the cities of Rabat and Tangier.

Group A matches will be held at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex while Group B matches will take place at the Grand Stade de Tanger, in Tangier.

Ghana will be hoping to be part of the first three nations who will get their ticket for the Summer Olympics in 2024.

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The team is currently in Cairo to prepare for the tournament later this month. The tournament also served as a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Ghana narrowly missed out on qualification to the Olympic Games four years ago, where they finished fourth in Egypt.

They came agonisingly close to securing bronze and a spot in Tokyo, falling just one penalty kick short. 

However, the Black Meteors secured qualification for the tournament with a 2-1 aggregate scoreline against Algeria.

Tanko reflected on their previous disappointment, stating, “The last time we were at the AFCON, we were all disappointed because we were one penalty away from qualifying for the Olympic Games. This time around, I am confident we had quality players during the qualifiers we played. We are one of the eight teams that could win the trophy.”

While Olympic qualification is a significant achievement, Tanko emphasised the team’s ambition to go beyond that.

“If we qualify [for the Olympics], it’s good, but we will still try to win the cup,” he told Asempa FM.

The Black Meteors will face the young Pharaohs in an international friendly on June 15.

A second friendly match is scheduled against an undisclosed opponent before heading to Morocco.

The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco will commence on June 24 and conclude on July 7, 2023.

Ghana havs been drawn into a group alongside host nation Morocco, Guinea, and Congo.

Tanko and his charges will hope to be part of the three finalists who will make it to the Olympic Games in Paris.

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Ghana has been paired in Group A alongside Morocco, Congo and Guinea.

Speaking during an engagement with Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President, Mark Addo, before the Black Meteors departed Ghana for Egypt on Monday, June 12, the former Hearts of Oak poster striker said the team will make Ghanaians proud.

“In this team, we don’t talk much. We do all our talking on the pitch and we are confident that we will make ourselves and the nation proud,” Daniel Afriyie Barnieh said as quoted on the Ghana FA website.

The Black Meteors are expected to spend two weeks in Egypt to train and play a couple of friendly matches before moving to Morocco for the U23 AFCON.

The Black Meteors will hope to be part of the three finalists that will secure a place in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The tournament is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, June 24.

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The team commenced camping in Ghana at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence before leaving Accra on Monday to continue their preparation in Cairo.

The delegation included players, technical staff, and officials of the Ghana Football Association who are leading the team.

Ibrahim Tanko’s side will enjoy a two-week camping in Egypt where they will be engaged in some friendly games before leaving for Morocco for the start of the tournament.

Black Stars forwards, Ernest Nuamah, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer, will join the Black Meteors at a later date as they are currently with the senior team ahead of the AFCON qualifier against Madagascar on Sunday, June 18.

Ghana has been housed in Group A alongside Morocco, Guinea and Congo.

The Black Meteors will hope to make it to the last three to secure a place in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

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Ibrahim Tanko and his charges arrived in Cairo to continue their preparations for the tournament.

Ghana will be hoping to make the final three to secure a place in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Before the team left the shores of the country, Mark Addo admonished them to make Ghana proud while lauding them for their recent achieving qualification to the tournament.

“I want to congratulate this team for what you have accomplished so far,” he said as reported by Ghana FA.

“If you want your names written in history this is the time. Always have the mentality that we are not going to Morocco to participate. You must go there and add your names to history,” Mark Addo told the Black Meteors.

“The whole country will be supporting you and will be yearning for something special from you,” he added.

Black Stars players, Enerst Nuamah, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer are expected to join the team after Ghana’s AFCON qualifier with Madagascar on Sunday.

As part of the preparations, the team is expected to engage their Egyptian counterparts in a pre-tournament friendly with a few more to come as they prepare for tough opponents in Morocco, the hosts, Congo and Guinea.

The tournament kicks off on June 24 and ends on July 8.

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The team earned qualification after a 2-1 aggregate victory over a two-legged qualifier against Algeria in March and have since then been preparing ahead of the competition.

Ibrahim Tanko had initially named a 22-man squad comprising only local-based players who have been camping at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence in Prampram.

However, Tanko last week Friday released a provisional list of 29 players including 14 foreign-based players who are all expected to join the team as they depart to Cairo where they would engage in a series of preparatory matches to keep them in shape ahead of the competitions.

Ghana are housed in Group A with the host Morocco as well as Congo and Guinea following a draw conducted last month.

The tournament serves as a qualification grounds for the next Olympic Games to be held in Paris next year as Ghana aims to make a return to the global competition after a 20-year hiatus.

They narrowly missed out in 2019 when they lost on penalties to South Africa in the third-place play-off match.

The U-23 AFCON tournament is scheduled to start on June 24, 2023, and end on July 8.

Below is the squad:

Ghana is part of the eight countries that will battle for the trophy in Morocco later this month.

The Black Meteors are pitched against Morocco, Congo and Guinea in Group A.

While most Ghanaians are hoping the team will prioritise a spot in the final three to help them earn a spot at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the gaffer of the team says they will also not shy away from the opportunity to lay their hands on the ultimate.

“The last time we were at the AFCON, we were all disappointed because we were one penalty away from qualifying for the Olympic Games,” he told Asempa FM.

“This time around, I am confident we had quality players during the qualifiers we played. We are one of the eight teams that could win the trophy.

“If we qualify [for the Olympics] it’s good but we will still try to win the cup,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Black Meteors will depart Ghana on Monday for Egypt to continue their preparations ahead of the tournament.

Ghana’s football team last played at the Olympic Games during the 2004 edition which was held in Athens, Greece, where the team suffered a group stage exit despite picking up four points from three games.

Tanko named a provisional 29-man squad to leave for Egypt with eight players set to be dropped before the start of the competition.

The tournament will kick off from 24 June to 08 July 2023 in the cities of Rabat and Tangier. 

Group A matches will be held at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex while Group B matches will take place at the Grand Stade de Tanger, in Tangier.

The first three nations will get their ticket for the Summer Olympics in 2024.

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The team secured a qualification following a 2-1 aggregate win over Algeria.

The Black Meteors suffered a disappointing loss to South Africa in the third-place playoffs of the 2019 AFCON, which cost them a spot in the Olympic Games.

However, with the U-23 AFCON set to take place in Morocco from June 24 to July 8, Dr Randy Abbey believes this tournament presents a chance for the team to rewrite the narrative of their previous setback.

According to the Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association, he remains confident in the abilities of coach Ibrahim Tanko and his technical team to guide the team to success.

“They were very unlucky in 2019, I mean where we missed the penalty against South Africa, which was quite unfortunate,” he told Citi Sports.

“I see the technical team very focused, Ibrahim Tanko is someone I know pretty well, he takes his work seriously, together with Godwin Attram and Michael Osei.

“Despite the fact that it is a tough group, I am confident Ghana will qualify for the Olympics in Paris,” he added.

The Black Meteors will leave the shores of Ghana on Monday to open camp in Egypt on Monday to continue preparations ahead of the tournament.

Ghana has been housed in Group A alongside, Morocco, Guinea and Congo.

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The Black Meteors will depart Accra on Monday, June 12, 2023, for Cairo where they will camp for two weeks and engage in series of friendlies before the competition.

The team has been training at the Ghanaman Centre of Excellence at Prampram ahead of the trip to Cairo.

Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ransford-Yeboah Koniigsdoffer who are part of the Black Stars squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar will join the Black Meteors after the match on June 18, 2023.

Ghana has been paired with hosts Morocco, Guinea and Congo in Group A. The Black Meteors will begin the tournament with a game against Congo on June 25, before taking on Morocco and Guinea on June 27 and June 30, respectively.

The finalists and third-place playoff winner of this tournament will qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics men’s football tournament in Paris while the 4th-placed team will play in the AFC –CAF playoff to decide the final slot at the Olympics.

The 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in Morocco between June 24 and July 8, 2023.

Ghana has been paired with host country, Morocco, Guinea and Congo in Group A for the tournament that has been scheduled to kick off from June 25 to July 8.

Acheampong, speaking to Graphic Sports, disclosed that the team will fly out of the country to Egypt by the end of the week to continue their preparation and they intended to play some friendly games to keep them in shape ahead of the start of the tournament.

“That is why we have chosen Egypt, that is where we hope to get some (friendly) matches because in June a lot of the leagues will be on break.

“We planned to go to a different country but because we may not get a lot of matches, we decided to camp in Egypt. We hope to play some of the countries that will be participating in the AFCON in Egypt,” he noted.

The technical handlers of the team will improve the squad with some Black Stars players ahead of the tournament.

However, Mr Acheampong confirmed that Kudus Mohammed will not be included in the Black Meteors’ squad for the tournament.

He indicated that Sulemana and Nuamah would be part of the team together with any other player(s) that the coach considers good enough.

“Kudus is not eligible because he was born in the year 2000 but there are other players in the Black Stars like Kamaldeen and Nuamah who would be needed in the Black Meteors”, he stated.

Ghana will hope to be part of the three finalist teams that will qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

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The 21-year-old, according to reports, is one of the few Black Stars players being considered for the tournament.

Ghana will be hoping to book a slot when they participate in the U-23 AFCON to be staged in Morocco next month between June 24 and July 8.

A final decision has been made about the former Stade Rennais winger with Ibrahim Tanko set to call him up for the continental showpiece.

Kamaldeen and Ernest Nuamah will join the Black Meteors squad after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar next month.

The pair were named in Chris Hughton’s squad for the upcoming game earlier on Tuesday, May 30.

Nuamah has been a part of the Meteors squad that secured qualification to the AFCON, assisting Abdul Fatawu Issahaku in both games against Algeria in their last qualifier.

Meanwhile, Ghana has been housed in Group A alongside host country, Morocco, Guinea and Congo.

Group B features holders Egypt, Mali, Gabon and Niger in what promises to be a high-flying show.

The 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations will take place between 24 June to 08 July 2023 in the cities of Rabat and Tangier. 

Group A matches will be held at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex while Group B matches will take place at the Grand Stade de Tanger, in Tangier.

The first three nations will get their ticket for the Summer Olympics in 2024.

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The players who are drawn from clubs in the betPawa Premier League and some lower-tier clubs in Ghana are to report at 3 pm on Tuesday.

The Black Meteors are paired with host Morocco, Guinea and Congo in Group A of the competition that serves as qualifiers for the next Olympics in Paris, France.

The U-23 AFCON is scheduled to begin on June 24 in Morocco, with the final match set to take place on July 8.

The Black Meteors will be looking to secure their place at the Olympic Games in Paris, with only the top three teams at the U-23 AFCON guaranteed a spot at the event.

Squad below:

Ghana has been paired with the host country, Guniea and Congo

Henry Asante Twum, the communications director of the Ghana Football Association, confirmed the eligibility of these players to represent Ghana at the U-23 level.

“The two coaches will decide on it. [Black Meteors coach] Ibrahim Tanko will need to tell us his plans and which players he intends to take for the U23 tournament from the Black Stars,” he told Kumasi-based Akoma FM.

He further explained discussions will be held with Black Stars coach Chris Hughton, for his approval.

He also referred to previous instances when eligible players were permitted to compete for the U-23 team, emphasising that “Kudus Mohammed, Kamaldeen, and Joseph Paintsil among others are all qualified players who can play for the U-23 in Morocco.”

Ghana, who have not qualified for the Olympic Games since 2004, are eager to make a strong impression at the tournament and secure a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off in June.

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Ghana has been absent from the Olympic Games since 2004 and is hoping to make a return having missed out narrowly four years ago.

The Black Meteors secured qualification for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in March with a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.

“We have one of the best coaches and a leader in Ibrahim Tanko. The rest of the technical team are doing well including Godwin Attram, myself, and Ablade Kumah,” he told Kumasi-based Akoma FM.

“We have enough quality as coaches and we will do our best to secure qualification, it will not be easy but with our experience in the game and the tournament as well, surely we will do everything to qualify for the Olympic games.

“Surely invitations will be extended to all players at every level of the national team who deserve to play because we need to strengthen the team.
Our mission is to build a team for the future and the Black Stars so we will try and get the best of players for the tournament,” he added.

Ghana will play host Morocco, Congo, and Guinea in Group A in the championship which starts on June 24 and ends on July 8.

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Ghana’s U-23 side has been housed in Group A alongside the host country, Guinea and Congo

The tournament is set to kick off on Saturday, 24 June 2023, with the Black Meteors facing host country Morocco in the opening match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.

Tanko acknowledges that the Black Meteors have been given a challenging path to the semi-finals, having been drawn in the same group as Morocco, Guinea, and Congo.

According to him, facing the young Atlas Lions on their home turf will be no easy task, with the host nation enjoying significant support from their fans.

“It’s not going to be easy (playing) against a host nation…they have their supporters behind them but we will do our best to stand them and not spoil our chance to go to the Olympics,” he told Footballmadeinghana.com

The TotalEnergies U23 Africa Cup of Nations will also be used as a qualifier for the Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Ghana will hope to be part of the three teams that will qualify for the Olympics.

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