Ibrahim Tanko, the head coach of the Ghana U-23 team, the Black Meteors, did not mince words about the team’s performance in the U-23 African Cup of Nations tournament, stressing the need to catch up with other countries before it becomes too late.
Following their disappointing showing in the tournament, where they failed to progress after a 1-1 draw with Guinea, Tanko addressed the team’s shortcomings in a post-match interview.
“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”
He acknowledged that the Football Association is actively working towards implementing changes, but more efforts are required to bridge the gap. “The FA is trying to change something but definitely we have to do more like you said.” Tanko stated.
Drawing a comparison between their performance in a pre-tournament friendly against Egypt and the tournament itself, Tanko stressed the need for swift progress. He expressed concern that time might be running out for the team to catch up with the standards set by other countries.
“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”
Tanko’s comments highlight the team’s determination to improve and emphasize the urgency of their situation. They recognize the need to elevate their performance and close the gap with their competitors to achieve better results in future tournaments.
