2023 U-23 AFCON: Our target is to qualify to the Olympic Games – Ibrahim Tanko
Black Meteors head coach Ibrahim Tanko has revealed the team will be competing at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations with the motive of securing a ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games.
Ghana sealed qualification to the AFCON after their 2-1 aggregate win over Algeria in March and have been drawn in Group A of the tournament which will be held in Morocco, starting on June 24.
According to Tanko, booking a slot in Paris 2024 is the Black Meteors’ core objective although they won’t shy away from an opportunity to win the title if they get to the final.
Ghana’s football team last played at the Olympic Games during the 2004 edition which was held in Athens, Greece and the gaffer is keen on changing that trend.
“The target is to qualify to the Olympic games but there’s also a trophy at stake so we are going for the ultimate and in doing so we want to qualify for the Olympic games,” he told the Ghana Football Association.
“We are here to do our job and the best for the nation but we also need the support of Ghanaians.”
Prior to arriving in Rabat on Wednesday night, the team was in Egypt for camping and Tanko added that they enjoyed a ‘good’ period.
“We had a very good training camp with two friendly games. We won one and drew one. I think the team is in very good shape and the players have improved very well. We used different set of players in the two friendly matches because we want to give everyone a chance to show what they can do in the tournament,” he continued.
“I am very impressed with the second team that played against Zamalek and I believe we can form a good side for our first game and for the tournament. We are here with 26 players so we have to give everyone the chance to show what they can do in the tournament. So far all of them have shown that if given the chance they can do well in the tournament.”
The Black Meteors are pitched against Morocco, Congo and Guinea in Group A and will face Congo in their opening game on Sunday, June 25.
