There are high expectations from Ghanaian supporters for their under-23 national team at the upcoming 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Morocco and a highly anticipated provisional player list was released by Black Meteors head coach Ibrahim Tanko on Thursday. A spot at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris is on the line and several of the country’s top talents based both domestically and abroad were included in Tanko’s 29-player list. Ghana is in Group A with Republic of Congo, Guinea and tournament hosts Morocco with the finalists qualifying to represent Africa at the Olympics.
Four names immediately stand out on the list who give the Ghanaian team plenty of attacking punch. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku of Sporting CP was the star of the qualifying campaign and is included along with FC Zürich forward Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, who combined with Fatawu to score five of Ghana’s six goals in qualifying. Southampton FC attacker Kamaldeen Sulemana’s inclusion indicates how seriously qualification to the Olympics men’s tournament is for Ghana, something the country has not achieved since the 2004 edition.
FC Nordsjælland player Ernest Nuamah is another highly hyped talent who is included following a stellar season for the Danish Superliga runners-up. Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer of German club Hamburg and Kwadwo “Mahala” Opoku of Los Angeles FC are other players based abroad who add even more firepower to an exciting Ghanaian attack.
Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim is set to continue as the preferred choice in goal. Midfielders Sylvester Simba of Dreams FC and Accra Lions captain Dominic Nsobila are two other standout players among the domestic-based options called in by Tanko. Ghana will begin their campaign on June 25 against Republic of Congo.
See the full list below.
