Ghana’s Black Meteors completed a week-long training camp in Egypt with a 4-1 victory over local side Zamalek SC on Tuesday.
Coach Ibrahim Tanko’s team arrived in Cairo on June 12 to begin final preparations for the 2023 Under-23 Africa of Nations (Afcon), which will be held in Morocco from June 24 to July 8.
Last Thursday, the squad drew 1-1 with Egypt’s Under-23s in Alexandria.
Meteors were put to the test again today at the club’s Sports Complex against a Zamalek side made up of first and reserve team players.
After 11 minutes, Ghana put their noses in front through Emmanuel Yeboah. However, the lead was short-lived as the hosts equalized five minutes later.
Yeboah regained the lead in the 25th minute following a superb build-up and completed his hat-trick in the 40th.
Ghana’s fourth goal came from left-winger Emmanuel Appau.
Goalkeeper Jordan Amissah produced a fantastic save when Zamalek were awarded a penalty shortly before halftime.
Coach Ibrahim Tanko made various adjustments in the second half, with Aziz Dari, Randolf, and Poku Waki all coming on.
Despite dominating the game in the second half, Ghana failed to add to their goal count, with the Black Meteors winning 4-1.
The squad is due to depart Cairo for Rabat on Wednesday, June 21.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s final squad of 23 for the U-23 Afcon will be without Southampton’s Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer of Hamburg as both players have excused themselves from the tournament.
The Black Meteors will begin their campaign in Group A on Sunday, June 25, 2023 against Congo. The game will be played at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat with kickoff at 15:00 GMT.
Ghana will face the Moroccans in their second game on June 27, and then Guinea three days later to finish the group stage. Both games kick off at 20:00 GMT.
The two top teams from Groups A and B will move on to the semifinals.
The competition’s winner and the two runners-up will earn a spot to represent Africa in the men’s soccer competition at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
