Ghana’s Black Meteors have qualified for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Algeria 1-0 in Kumasi.
The U-23 side had earlier drawn 1-1 against their North African opponents in the first leg and had to seal qualification to the Afcon at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Abdul Fataw Issahaku scored in the 12th minute to calm the nerves of the Kumasi fans as they cheered the talented Meteors side to victory.
The unmarked Sporting CP winger headed home Ernest Nuamah’s delightful cross from the left wing.
โฐ ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ โ๏ธ
๐บ๐ฝThe ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐ญ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ have qualified for the U23 AFCON which will take place in Morocco from June 23 to July 8! ๐๐พ
๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฏ 1๏ธโฃ-0๏ธโฃ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฉ๐ฟ
( agg: ๐ฌ๐ญ 2-1 ๐ฉ๐ฟ)#BlackMeteors | #GHAALG | #AFCONU23Q pic.twitter.com/l1HBRLTrJz
— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) March 28, 2023
After the opener, the Black Meteors continued their dominance in the first half but failed to utilize the great opportunities to extend the goal margin.
The Algerians then grew into the game and transformed their play in midfield.
But Ghana’s defensive line displayed quality enough to match their attacks till half time.
After the break, the Meteors continued their search for the second goal of the game with Nuamah and Fataw busy on the flanks.
Algeria, on the other hand, pushed further high on the pitch and wanted a leveller to keep their hopes of qualifying alive.
But both sides failed to score and Ghana controlled the latter parts of the game till full time to book their ticket to Morocco in June.
The U23 Africa Cup of Nations will determine the national teams representing the continent in the 2024 Olympic Games to be hosted in Paris.
Ghana’s head coach Ibrahim Tanko hopes to qualify after missing out in the 2020 edition.
The Black Meteors finished fourth after losing on penalties to South Africa in the 2019 U23 Afcon.