TotalEnergies U-23 AFCON: Ibrahim Tanko delivers verdict on Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Guinea and early exit

Coach Ibrahim Tanko has blamed the Black Meteors 1–1 draw against Guinea in a Group A final game and their early exit at the ongoing U-23 AFCON on loss of concentration.

The Ghana U-23, who opened the tournament with a 3-2 victory over Congo needed the maximum points to advance but the draw wasn’t enough to secure them a place in the semi-finals.

Coach Ibrahim Tanko’s side entered the match desperate to redeem themselves following their 5-1 loss to the tournament hosts, Morocco, on Tuesday.

Emmanuel Yeboah opened the scoring for the Ghanaian side in the 33rd minute to take his tally to three goals.

But Guinea equalised in the 60th minute which was enough to see them secure qualification to the last eight.

“It’s a very painful draw to swallow after leading 1-0 and conceding such a goal is bitter.

“That’s football. We prepared ourselves very well to meet the game but at the end we have to go with the draw which is very very painful.

“What happened in the last games repeated itself. Lack of concentration is what caused us to concede the goal. It’s very painful,” Coach Ibrahim Tanko said after the game.

The two teams that make it to the final and the third-place playoff winner of this edition of the U-23 AFCON will qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympic men’s football tournament in Paris.

The fourth-placed team will play the AFC–CAF playoff to decide the final Olympic slot.