Midfielder Emmanuel Essiam, hailing from Ghana, has joined the Ghana U-23 squad at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram as they gear up for the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco later this month.
Ibrahim Tanko, the team’s coach, has assembled a 22-man squad consisting solely of locally-based players for training. The full squad, which is expected to include foreign-based players, has yet to be revealed.
Following the conclusion of various European leagues, including the Swiss league where Essiam currently plays, the former Berekum Chelsea youth player has joined the 22 players in camp and has commenced training.
Frederick Acheampong, the chairman of the Black Meteors Management Committee, has mentioned that Black Stars U-23 players are also under consideration for selection, aiming to strengthen the Black Meteors squad.
Promising players like Fatawu Issahaku and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh are anticipated to join the team at a later stage. Additionally, Ernest Nuamah, Kamaldeen Sulemanna, and Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer, who are currently part of the Black Stars squad, are eligible and likely candidates to be called up as well.
In Group A of the tournament, Ghana is scheduled to face hosts Morocco, Congo, and Guinea. The tournament commences on June 23, and Ghana aims to secure a top-three finish to secure their return to the Olympic Games next year, ending a 19-year absence.
