LIVE UPDATES: Ghana vs Ivory Coast (U-23 AFCON Semi-final)

Good afternoon and welcome to our text coverage of the 2019 under-23 AFCON semi-final match between Ghana and Ivory Coast.

History beckons for Ibrahim Tanko’s side as victory today will send Ghana to the Olympic Games for the first time in 15 years.

The pressure of ending a curse that has lasted for a decade and half is huge but coach Tanko says his charges are calm and focused on the challenge.

“Cote d’Ivoire is a difficult team and facing them is not going to be easy especially in a game of this magnitude. I trust my players to win and reach the final, and also grab the ticket for the Olympics. All my players are ready”.

Like their Ghanaian counterparts, the Ivorians are determined to make an appearance at next year’s Olympic Games.

“We will do our best. Now we are just one step away from Tokyo 2020. We play all our games to win whoever the opponent is. Anything can happen against Ghana, and we have to be proud of ourselves now”.

Kwabena Owusu’s brace against Mali kept Ghana’s Olympic dreams alive but Tanko has decided to go with the team that started against Mali.

A huge blow to the Ivorians as danger man Christian Kouame is ruled out due to injury but coach Soualiho Haidara has enough men in his team to pull a win over their neighbours.

A further boost for team Ghana as GFA boss Kurt Okraku arrived in camp and will be cheering them on from the stands.

Game starts at 2:00 pm and there will be live text commentary here