According to reports, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer, both members of the Black Stars, have decided to withdraw from the Black Meteors squad for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Initially, the forwards were named in Ibrahim Tanko’s provisional 29-man squad for the tournament. The goal for Ghana is to secure a spot in next year’s Olympic Games in Paris by finishing among the top three teams at the AFCON.
Kamaldeen and Ransford-Yeboah were expected to join the Black Meteors after their involvement in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match against Madagascar on June 18. Another player, Ernest Nuamah, was also set to join the U-23 team.
However, it has now been revealed that Kamaldeen and Ransford-Yeboah will no longer be part of Tanko’s squad for the tournament in Morocco.
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 participate in the match.
Reports suggest that the two players lack enthusiasm for participating in the Meteors’ campaign at the tournament. Additionally, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) failed to convince their respective clubs to release them for the competition, which does not have FIFA sanctioning.
In contrast, Nuamah had previously played in the qualifiers with the Black Meteors and played a significant role, providing assists in both legs against Algeria. He successfully convinced Nordsjaelland to release him for the tournament.
With the withdrawal of the Southampton and Hamburg forwards, the head coach of the Black Meteors is now left with a squad of 27 players from which he will finalize the team selection. Nuamah is expected to join the rest of his teammates in Morocco ahead of the start of the competition.
Ghana has been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Guinea, and DR Congo. The tournament is scheduled to commence on Saturday, June 24.
