Ibrahim Anyars Tanko, the coach of the Black Meteors, is determined to leave no stone unturned in ensuring a victorious outcome against Guinea at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangiers on Friday.
With Guinea holding second place in Group A due to a superior goal difference, only a win for the Ghanaian U-23 team will secure their qualification for the knockout stages of the ongoing 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking to journalists at the team’s base in Rabat’s Ibis Hotel on Wednesday, after their final training session at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Tanko acknowledged the unpredictable nature of football but remained confident in Ghana’s ability to secure the three points and advance.
“It’s football, and anything can happen, but I’m 100 percent sure that we are going to have the three points and qualify,” he affirmed as quoted by Graphiconline.
Tanko assured that his players were not disheartened by the 5-1 defeat against Morocco and were already in high spirits during training.
Despite the setback, Tanko emphasized the versatility of his talented offensive players such as Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Ernest Nuamah Appiah, Emmanuel Yeboah, and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, underscoring their importance in Ghana’s progression through clinical finishing in front of goal. He also mentioned implementing strategic changes to orchestrate a victory over Guinea.
The team departed from Rabat on Thursday for the three-hour journey to Tangiers, where they will face their Guinean counterparts in the crucial must-win encounter at the Ibn Batouta Stadium on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 8 pm GMT.
Throughout their 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Group A campaign, the Meteors have been based in Rabat. However, they will now make the journey to the coastal city of Tangiers to secure their qualification for the knockout stages of the tournament.
