AFCON U23: Black Meteors Suffer Group Stage Elimination After Draw Against Guinea

AFCON U23: Black Meteors Suffer Group Stage Elimination After Draw Against Guinea

Lukman Mumuni
updated at June 30, 2023 at 10:39 PM
  • Ghana's U23 team have been eliminated from the AFCON U23 tournament
  • The Black Meteors were held to a 1-1 draw by Guinea
  • Ghana will not be in Paris for the Olympic Games next summer

Ghana have been dumped out of the Africa U23 Cup of Nations after a 1-1 draw against Guinea in their final group game.

Emmanuel Yeboah's goal in the first-half was not enough as Ibrahim Fofana netted a stunning volley to send Guinea through to the semi-finals.

Following a sluggish start from both sides, it was the Guineans that came close after Ousmane Camara's goal-bound shot was stopped by his own teammate on the line.

Black Meteors, Ghana, AFCON U23, Guinea
Black Meteors have been eliminated from the AFCON U23 tournament. Credit: @GhanaBlackstars
Source: Twitter

CFR Cluj star Yeboah announced his presence in the game moments later after his header went few inches wide.

Ghana then took advantage of a miss-kick from Guinea goalkeeper Mory Keita with Ibrahim Hafiz finding Yeboah, whose one-two with Fatawu Issahaku resulted in a brilliant opener.

Hafiz nearly doubled Ghana's lead after firing from outside the box, only for the Guinean shot-stopper to punch the ball away for a corner kick.

Right before half-time, Begaly Cisse threatened the Ghanaian goal post after rising high to head from a corner.

Five minutes after the break, Ghana coach Ibrahim Tanko replaced Emmanuel Yeboah with Ernest Nuamah but it was the Guineans who kept getting close.

Seydouba Cisse fired from long range before Mohamed Soumah saw his header hit the upright.

The pressure from the Guineans paid off on the hour mark after captain Ibrahima Fofana latched on the ball from outside the box, beating Black Meteors goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad.

The Black Meteors came close to getting the winner after Nuamah was sent through by Issahaku, only for his strike to be saved by Keita.

The Guineans held on as they progressed to the semi-finals of the Africa U23 Cup of Nations while Ghana exit at the group stage of another tournament.

Ghanaians disappointed after Morocco defeat

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ghanaians have been left disappointed following the Black Meteors' heavy defeat to Morocco at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

The Black Meteors suffered a 5-1 defeat at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium on Tuesday night, leaving the team in dire need of a win in their final group match against Guinea to progress to the second round.

A brace from Ismael Saibairi and strikes from Michael Richardson, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, and Yanis Begraoui ensured the Moroccans are through to the semis. Salim Adams got a consolation for Ghana.

Authors
Lukman Mumuni photo
Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.
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