Black Meteors head coach, Ibrahim Tanko, is looking forward to the upcoming Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament with renewed hope after his side secured qualification in style with a 1-0 victory over Algeria in Kumasi last week to book a place at the continental competition on a 2-1 aggregate.
Even though Portugal-based forward, Abdul-Fatawu Issahaku, scored both goals for Ghana over the two legs, including a jaw-dropping strike from his own half in the first leg fixture in Annaba, it was Demark-based, Ernest Nuamah, who was the toast of fans at the Baba Yara Stadium for his impressive performance and link play with Issahaku which produced the winning goal.
The Meteors coach said he was counting on Nuamah’s exploits to help the team excel at the continental competition where Ghana has targeted qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Nuamah, of Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, was very majestic on the ball and was a constant threat to the Algerians as he took on defenders and cut through from the left, and created many scoring opportunities for the Meteors.
Legends praise
After the match, he warned the praise of many football legends, including former Black Stars captains Abedi Pele and Asamoah Gyan, who hailed the youngster’s talents and predicted a promising future for him.
Three-time African best player, Abedi, posted on Twitter that 19-year-old Nuamah was destined for greatness.
“I have had the chance to watch the clips of this maestro! He will be great. Seen,” Abedi tweeted.
Ghana’s record goal scorer was also full of compliments for the youngster who wore Gyan’s favourite No. 3 jersey. “Another next thing for Ghana. Check out the jersey number he is wearing,” tweeted Gyan after the match.
Yesterday, Coach Tanko said he had long been an admirer of Nuamah and believed the youngster would be a key man to watch in his team.
“I knew him and had spoken to Coach Didi Dramani [ Black Stars assistant coach and Technical Director of Nordsjaelland] about him.
“He is very good and it is a compliment that a lot of European clubs are after him,” the Meteors coach told Graphic sports.
Qualities
Tanko said he loved Nuamah’s approach to the game and the qualities he brings to the team as they aimed to excel at the continental competition in Morocco in June.
“He is fast, a good dribbler, and always moves forward with the ball. In fact, he hardly takes the ball back but just attacks opponents which are qualities I like about my attackers.”
Coach Tanko, who was in charge when the Meteors failed to qualify for the Olympic Games at the U-23 AFCON in Egypt in 2019, said he was looking forward to further strengthen his team with some of the best players available, including Black Stars and Southampton forward, Kamaldeen Sulemana, who is 21 years and also eligible to play.
He is hoping that with the tournament coming off from June 24 to July 8, during which the European season will be over, he would get some of his Europe-based players to play for the Meteors in Morocco.
Coach Tanko said he was also pleased to hear that Black Stars forward, Ransford-Yeboah Konningsdoffer, openly said he was willing and ready to feature for the Meteors and said he would widen his search for the best players available, as Ghana aim to return to the Olympic Games for the first time since the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Source: Graphiconline
