The Black Meteors will be hoping to begin their campaign at the Cairo International Stadium with a flyer when they face their counterparts from Cameroon later tonight.
This competition, set up in 2011 as the qualification ticket for the Olympics, is an eight-nation tournament Ghana has never played in.
This is the first time the Black Meteors have qualified for the showpiece and are hoping it goes according to plan so they can end the country’s 15-year absence from the Olympic Games.
“I have confidence in the team I have put out and I believe the boys can grab the ultimate,” Tanko said moments before the Black Meteors’ jet-off to Egypt for the tournament.
Tanko has put his faith in Kwabena Owusu, who played with the senior national team at the African Cup of Nations, Yaw Yeboah, Evans Mensah and Kinsley Fobi, who has been his trusted right sided fullback all through qualifiers.
Tanko’s team comprises 12 foreign players and 9 local boys who have been in camp for well over a month in preparation for this tourney.
The Black Meteors were the first African nation to grab a medal in football at the Olympic Games when they won Bronze in Barcelona in 1992.
The feat opened doors for West African neighbors, Nigeria and Cameroon to win gold in 1996 and 2000 respectively.
Ghana begin the campaign against Cameroon who have always proved a tough customer.
The 2000 Olympic champion led by the veteran, Rigobert Song has built a team with a perfect blend of foreign and local players just like the Ghanaian side.
The Indomitable Lions conceded 3 goals in the qualifiers en route to the tournament (same number as Ghana).
This shows how hard they can defend. The attacking prowess of both teams differ though. The Black Meteors scored 11 goals in qualifiers while the Cameroonians scored six.
Egypt kick off the tournament at home against Mali while Ghana play Cameroon in the next feature game of Group A.
It will be interesting to see how things pan out at this tourney.
By Yaw Ofosu Larbi|3news.com|Ghana