TotalEnergies U-23 AFCON: Ghana’s Olympic Games dream in tatters despite draw with Guinea

Ghana’s U-23 side have been eliminated from the ongoing U-23 AFCON in Morocco despite finishing level on points with Guinea.

The Black Meteors were held to a 1-1 by the … in their final group game but it wasn’t enough to qualify for the semi-finals.

Emmanuel Yeboah took the lead for Ghana on the 33 minutes after capitalising on a mistake from the Guineans with the assist coming from Fatawu Issahaku.

However, it wasn’t enough for Ghana as Guinea got a second half equaliser to end the Black Meteors’ chances of making the semifinals.

Ghana started the game well and created the first opportunity in the opening minute but Issahaku’s strike with his weaker foot was far from troubling.

Thereafter, Guinea took control of the game and dominated possession for the majority of the first half and causing fear in the final third but failing to find the back of the net.

Prior to Ghana scoring in the 33rd minute, Guinea should have taken the lead but Ibrahima Fofana’s tap-in was blocked by Aguibou Camara in front of the Ghana goal and the Black Meteors were lucky not to concede from there.

Ibrahim Tanko’s side went the break with a one-goal lead following Yeboah’s strike.

Ghana made its first substitution in the 50th minute with Ernest Nuamah replacing the goal scorer who seemed to have picked up a knock from the opening half.

Mohamed Soumah was close to getting the equaliser for Guinea in the 59th minute of the game but his header from a corner came off the post.

There was no denying Fofana in the 60th minute. The skipper struck beautifully from a rebound and beat goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim from 30 years out to draw Guinea level.

Numah came close to restoring Ghana’s lead in the 78th minute but his curler was parried away by the Guinean goalkeeper.

Despite their late charge to score the winning goal, Tanko’s men failed to impress as the game ended 1-1.

The stalemate means Ghana are out of the competition and also fail in their attempts to secure qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games to be staged in Paris.