Ghana coach Ibrahim Tanko has exuded confidence that this could be their year to lift the Caf U23 Africa Cup of Nations trophy in Morocco.

The Black Meteors will kick off their campaign against Congo at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday and Tanko was full of confidence they will surpass their display from the last edition when they finished fourth.

“The squad has prepared well, and we recently defeated Zamalek 4-1. This match concluded our training camp in Egypt, and I’m quite satisfied with what the boys produced during this preparation. We still have a few details to address,” Tanko said as quoted by CafOnline.

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Tanko added: “We didn’t take well to our failure to qualify for Tokyo 2023. It left a bitter taste. My players are motivated, and they just want to start playing. It won’t be easy against Congo. We have conducted multiple video sessions to analyse their game. The boys need to be in top form because there won’t be any warm-up matches.”

Meanwhile, Ghana forward Daniel Afriyie said: “I participated in the last World Cup with the Black Stars, and every time I put on the jersey, I feel like I have superpowers. You know, once you’ve tasted a tournament of the magnitude of the World Cup, you only wish for one thing: to experience it again. The Olympics are a competition of the same caliber.”

Ghana’s team was boosted ahead of the game after Ernest Nuamah, who was previously absent, joined his teammates in Rabat, Morocco. Nuamah called up for the first time to the senior national team, was with Chris Hughton’s squad last weekend during the draw between the West Africans and Madagascar in the qualifying match for the Afcon finals in Ivory Coast.