Black Meteors striker, Emmanuel Yeboah says Ghana could not have afforded to slip against Congo in the U23 Africa Cup of Nations Group A opener on Sunday, June 25, 2023.
Ibrahim Tanko’s team narrowly escaped with a 3-2 win against Congo thanks to second goals from Ernest Nuamah and a brace from Emmanuel Yeboah.
Yeboah came off the bench at the beginning of the second half and needed just five minutes to make an impact, setting up FC Nordsjaelland star, Ernest Nuamah.
The provider turned scorer minutes later, capitalizing on some weak defending, and slotted the ball beyond the reach of the Congolese goalkeeper.
The CFR Cluj attacker soon added a third, calmly dispatching his penalty sending Ghana 3 goals up.
However, with the game coming to a close, the team conceded two late goals to set a nervy end.
Speaking to the media after the game, Yeboah said he was delighted the team got to win despite the Congolese’s late scare.
“When I saw the opponents we were going to face; I was delighted because they are powerhouses of African football. It is through such strong opposition that we progress. We couldn’t afford to falter today against Congo, and we will gain momentum as the tournament progresses,” he said after the match.
“I’m a pretty relaxed person. When the coach told me to enter the game, I immediately knew what my mission was – to shine for the team.”
Yeboah also lauded his teammates for their performance and asked that the team stays focused throughout the competition.
“The credit doesn’t belong to me alone. I feel blessed to be part of a group where I can genuinely call each of these players my brothers,” he added.
“We have the coach, the staff, and the players to go all the way; it’s up to us to stay focused,” he ended.