Ghana’s national U-23 team, the Black Meteors, bid farewell to the CAF U-23 AFCON tournament Friday night after drawing 1-1 against Guinea at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangiers, Morocco.
Heading into the match, Guinea sat comfortably in the driver’s seat of Group A, trailing behind leaders Morocco, knowing that a draw would secure their progression based on goal difference.
However, defying expectations, it was the Ghanaians who found the back of the net first, against the flow of the game, in the 33rd minute. Emmanuel Yeboah, the forward from CFR Cluj, expertly converted from within the penalty box after being skillfully set up by Fatawu Issahaku.
Despite Guinea’s continued dominance in possession, the Ghanaians managed to hold on until halftime.
Upon resumption, Meteors coach Ibrahim Tanko was forced to make a substitution, replacing Yeboah, who had made a significant impact with three goals and an assist in the tournament, with the agile winger Ernest Appiah Nuamah.
Struggling to maintain possession, Ghana found themselves pegged back by Guinea in the 60th minute when their captain, Ibrahima Breze Fofana, unleashed a powerful long-range shot past Ghana’s goalkeeper, Ibrahim Danlad.
In the second half, Nuamah had Ghana’s best opportunity to take the lead in the 78th minute, but his angled shot was saved by Guinea’s goalkeeper, Mory Keita.
The outcome of the match dashed the Meteors’ hopes of qualifying for the Summer Olympics in Paris next year with several players collapsing onto the pitch at full-time.
It is worth noting that Ghana has failed to qualify for the Olympic football tournament since 2004.