Ghana U23
Nickname(s)The Black Meteors
AssociationGhana Olympic Committee (GOC)
ConfederationANOCA (Africa)
Head coachIbrahim Tanko
Home stadiumAccra Sports Stadium
FIFA codeGHA
First colours
Second colours
Olympic Games
Appearances6 (first in 1964)
Best result3rd: 1992
Africa U-23 Cup of Nations
Appearances1 (first in 2019)
Best resultFourth place (2019)
All-Africa Games
Appearances5 (first in 1973)
Best resultChampion Gold Medal (2011)
Medal record
Men's Football
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona[1] Team
All-Africa Games
Bronze medal – third place 1978 AlgiersN/A
Bronze medal – third place 2003 AbujaN/A
Gold medal – first place 2011 MozambiqueTeam
Olympic medal record
Men's Football
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona Team

Ghana U23 football team (also known as Ghana Olympic football team or Black Meteors), represents Ghana in international football competitions in Olympic Games, All-Africa Games, and CAF U-23 Championship. The selection is limited to players aged 23 and under the age of 23, except during the Olympic Games where the use of three overage players is allowed. The team is controlled by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

The team had qualified for five straight Olympic Games Football Tournaments when the tournament was still a full senior national team competition. In 1992, they became the first African country to win a medal at Olympic Games football. The Black Meteors failed to qualify for Beijing 2008 and although being the 2011 All-Africa Games champions, the Ghana Olympic football team failed to qualify for the 2011 CAF U-23 Championship, thus did not participate in London 2012.[2]

History

Ghana appeared in the quarter-final of the Olympic Games in 1964 where they were beaten by Romania in the quarter-final. They played in the 1968, 1972 Olympic tournaments, but never progressed further than the Group stages. They also qualified in 1976 then withdrew.

In 1992, Ghana reached the semi-final for the first time, they defeated Australia 2-0 to claim their first bronze medal in the event, and thus became the first African country to win a medal at football.

Ghana reached the quarter-finals of the Olympics football tournament in 1996 for the second time, they lost 4–2 against Brazil.

In the Athens 2004 tournament Ghana were eliminated in the Group stages after they lost a must win game 1–0 against Japan. The team were not able to qualify for Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Results and fixtures

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2021

5 June Friendly Japan  6–0  Ghana Fukuoka, Japan
19:25 UTC+9 Doan 16'
Kubo 32'
Assinki 45' (o.g.)
Soma 48'
Ueda 56'
Mitoma 89'		 Report (JFA)
Report (JFA)		 Stadium: Best Denki Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Hiroki Kasahara (Japan)
12 June Friendly South Korea  3–1  Ghana Seogwipo, South Korea
Lee Sang-min 18'
Lee Seung-mo 59'
Cho Gue-sung 66'		 Report Obeng Gyabaa 76' Stadium: Jeju World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 2,532
Referee: Chae Sang-hyub (Korea)
15 June Friendly South Korea  2–1  Ghana Seogwipo, South Korea
Jeong Woo-yeong 41'
Lee Dong-jun 65'		 Report Barnes 51' Stadium: Jeju World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 2,337
Referee: Choi Hyun-jai (Korea)

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 28 June 2022
Position Name
Head coach Ghana Ibrahim Tanko
Assistant coach Ghana Michael Osei
Assistant coach Ghana Godwin Attram
Goalkeepers Trainer Ghana Cudjoe Addo
Team Doctor Ghana Christopher Adomako
Masseur Ghana Anum George Amassah
Welfare Officer Ghana Ablade Kumah
Equipment Officer Ghana Emmanuel Opoku

Source: Ghana Football Association[3]

Manager history

As of 5 June 2021 after the match against  Japan.
Manager Period Record
MatchesWonDrawLostWin %
Ghana Malik Jabir2015–––––
Ghana Yusif Abubakar201900000%
Ghana Ibrahim Tanko[4]20191143436.4%
Ghana Paa Kwesi Fabin[5]2019–202010010%
Ghana Ibrahim Tanko[3]2022–431075%

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Algeria on 24 and 28 March 2023.[6]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1GK Haruna Aziz Dari (2001-05-23) 23 May 2001 Ghana Bechem United
1GK Ibrahim Danlad (2002-12-02) 2 December 2002 Ghana Asante Kotoko
1GK William Essu (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 Ghana Legon Cities
2DF Samuel Abbey-Ashie Quaye (2001-04-14) 14 April 2001 Ghana Accra Great Olympics
2DF Emmanuel Cudjoe (1998-04-11) 11 April 1998 Ghana Attram de Visser
2DF Aaron Essel (2005-07-30) 30 July 2005 Ghana Bechem United
2DF David Oppong Afrane (2002-12-03) 3 December 2002 Ghana King Faisal Babes
2DF Augustine Randolf (2001-03-26) 26 March 2001 Ghana Karela United
2DF Godfred Poku Wakii (2003-10-16) 16 October 2003 Ghana Aduana Stars
3MF Salim Adams (2002-10-11) 11 October 2002 United States Cincinnati
3MF Emmanuel Essiam (2003-12-19) 19 December 2003 Switzerland Basel
3MF Eugene Frimpong (2003-02-02) 2 February 2003 Spain Real Valladolid
3MF Dominic Nsobila (2002-12-19) 19 December 2002 Ghana Accra Lions
3MF Alex Opoku Sarfo (2004-10-20) 20 October 2004 Ghana Benab
3MF Abass Samari Salifu (2004-07-02) 2 July 2004 Ghana Accra Lions
3MF Seidu Saraj (2001-01-29) 29 January 2001 Ghana Accra Hearts of Oak
3MF Simba Sylvester (2001-07-29) 29 July 2001 Ghana Dreams
4FW Yusub Abdul Razak (2001-12-02) 2 December 2001 Ghana Accra Great Olympics
4FW Felix Afena-Gyan (2003-01-19) 19 January 2003 Italy Cremonese
4FW Daniel Afriyie (2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 Switzerland Zürich
4FW Emmanuel Appau (2002-05-04) 4 May 2002 Ghana Bibiani Gold Stars
4FW Issahaku Fatawu (2004-03-08) 8 March 2004 Portugal Sporting CP
4FW Zubairu Ibrahim (2004-06-02) 2 June 2004 Serbia Jedinstvo
4FW Dede Ishmael (2001-12-10) 10 December 2001 Ghana Dreams
4FW Ernest Nuamah (2003-11-01) 1 November 2003 Denmark Nordsjælland
4FW Emmanuel Yeboah (2003-02-25) 25 February 2003 Romania Cluj

Previous squads

African Games

Africa U-23 Cup of Nations

Competitive record

Olympic Games

Note: Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since 1992.

African Games

Note: Football at the All-Africa Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Since 1992, squads for Football at the Summer Olympics have been restricted to three players over the age of 23. The achievements of such teams are not usually included in the statistics of the international team.
  2. ↑ Ghana Football Association. www.ghanafa.org.
  3. 1 2 "Ibrahim Tanko appointed as Coach of Black Meteors". Ghana FA. Ghana Football Association. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  4. ↑ Association, Ghana Football. "PROFILE OF NATIONAL TEAM COACHES: Ibrahim Tanko". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  5. ↑ Association, Ghana Football. "Paa Kwesi Fabin named as Head coach of National U-23 team". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  6. ↑ "Black Meteors 26-Squad For Algeria Assignment". Ghana Football Association. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
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