Black Stars interim assistant coach Ibrahim Tanko has expressed his pride in serving the Ghana national team, insisting that contributing to the country’s football development remains a special privilege despite the difficult situation surrounding the team’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
Tanko, who also serves as head coach of Medeama SC, says he is determined to give his best as part of the interim technical team tasked with restoring confidence and improving Ghana’s fortunes following a disappointing start to the qualifiers.
The Black Stars have endured a difficult opening to their Group C campaign, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in Bouake before recording a disappointing 4-2 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The two successive defeats triggered the departure of head coach Carlos Queiroz, forcing the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to begin the process of finding a new technical direction for the four-time African champions.
Following the development, the GFA and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation constituted a five-member committee to recommend a substantive head coach for the national team.
In the meantime, Kim Lars Björkegren has been appointed to lead the interim technical team, with Tanko, Godwin Attram and Fatau Dauda serving as his assistants ahead of Ghana’s crucial double-header against Somalia.
Speaking in an interview with Joy Sports, Tanko said he was honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to the national team at a difficult moment, emphasising his commitment to helping Ghana overcome its current challenges.
“I am proud to be one of those who can help Ghana in this very tough situation,” he told Joy Sports.
“For me, national duty is something special. I have served Ghana in different capacities, and whenever the opportunity comes to contribute, I see it as a privilege.
“The situation may be challenging, but we must be ready to give our best,” he added.
Tanko’s comments underline his willingness to take up the responsibility of serving the country despite the pressure surrounding the Black Stars following their disappointing results in the opening two qualifying matches.
His experience in Ghanaian football, coupled with his current role at Medeama SC, will be expected to contribute to the interim technical team’s efforts to rebuild the squad and restore the confidence needed to compete at the highest level.
The immediate assignment for Tanko and his colleagues will be to guide Ghana through the two encounters against Somalia, with the Black Stars desperate to secure maximum points and revive their qualification ambitions.
Ghana will host Somalia on Thursday, November 12, before the two sides meet again on November 16. Both matches are scheduled to take place in Ghana.
The interim technical team is expected to announce its squad this week as preparations intensify for the important fixtures.
The Black Stars currently occupy the bottom position in Group C without a point after their opening two matches, making the upcoming encounters particularly important to their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 tournament.
Ghana will also be eager to avoid another disappointing qualifying campaign after missing the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
With the 2027 edition set to be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Tanko and the rest of the interim technical team face the immediate responsibility of helping Ghana return to winning ways and restore belief within the national setup.
