The Black Meteors slumped to a humiliating 5-1 defeat at the hands of their Moroccan counterparts in Tuesday night’s AFCON U-23 game and it is a result that leaves serious question marks hanging over the future of manager Ibrahim Tanko.
Michael Richardson, Saibari, Y.Bagraoui, Abde Ezzalzouli scored the goals for the North Africans with Salim Adams getting the consolation for the Ghanaians.
Here are four talking points from the match...
Morocco played The Perfect Game
The Moroccans were dominant but Ghana had some good spells. The North Africans didn’t allow the Ghanaians play and were much more clinical in possession of the ball. Morocco took their time and converted chances on goal at the right moment, whereas Ghana were wasteful whenever big chances arose.
Tanko Living On Borrowed Time
Not only were the tactics wrong, but as has been the case since in their recent games. Tanko looked bereft of any inspiration. The players, as talented as they are, aren’t responding to his ideas, and it must have been a tough watch for many Ghana fans to watch their team play so bad.
Tanko looked a broken, beaten man at the final whistle. He faces a mammoth task in trying to rouse his troops for the upcoming epic clash with Guinea on Friday, assuming he is still in charge...
Speculation that there will be a managerial change will only increase, and it is becoming harder by the day to make a case for Tanko. Would it be too late? Well, the future would suggest not. A new manager would, at the very least, spark something that could get the team back to winning ways.
Terry Yegbe Had a Night to Forget
The former Vision FC and now SJK defender was very impressive in Ghana’s opening game against Congo on Sunday. Many questioned the decision of the manager to subbed him off in the dying embers of the game since it resulted in the Ghanaians conceding two late goals within a space of two minutes.
Quite paradoxically, the intelligent centre-back failed to replicate same performance on Tuesday night and was Ghana’s weakest link in defence. He was maligned for one of the goals Ghana conceded.
No one seems to know why he played with such diffidence in the game. This will certainly go down as Yegbe’s saddest day in his career and a day he will quickly love to forget.
Ghana Now Faced With A Must-Win Game Against Guinea
With the Black Meteors’ loss and Guinea’s emphatic victory over Congo, the Ghanaians’ chances of advancing from the group is increasingly becoming unlikely.
Morocco maintains the top spot with 6 points in two games with Guinea following with 3 points. With 3 points, the Black Meteors will need to win their remaining game against Guinea on Friday to have a chance of advancing to the semifinals of the tournament as they seek qualify for next year’s Olympics.
It looks cagey for Tanko but he’ll need to find a way to secure a win on Friday.
