Tanko: Grant doing a good job

The ex-Black Stars striker is happy with the Israeli’s efforts as manager of the four-time African champions

Former Cameroon assistant coach Ibrahim Tanko is impressed by Avram Grant’s work as coach of the Black Stars.

Grant was named Ghana coach in December 2014, leading the team to the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea where they fell to Cote d’Ivoire on penalties.

“Avram has done a good job since he came and he must be supported,” Tanko told StarrFM.

“He finished second with the team at the 2015 Afcon and is also on the verge if qualifying the team to another [in Gabon next year], so I think he has done a good work.

“It is not good [that Ghana hasn’t won the Afcon since 1982]. We have good materials, so we need to back up.”

Follow a playing career with Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg, as well as 10 appearances for Ghana between 1996 and 2004, Tanko was named deputy coach of Cameroon in June 2013 after Volker Finke’s appointment as head coach of the Indomitable Lions.

The duo were, however, sent packing in October last year under controversial circumstances, having earlier led the team to a disastrous outing at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

“I was not there [at the World Cup] as a player but I was there as a coach and that’s ok,” Tanko added.

“We were not sacked by Cameroon for footballing reasons. The new FA president did not like us.”

Tanko is among five Ghanaians to have ever lifted the Uefa Champions League trophy, winning the title with Dortmund in 1996-97.