Ghana's head coach Desmond Ofei has named a 26-man Black Meteors squad for the U-23 AFCON 2027 qualifiers. The squad is expected to report to camp at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram on September 29, 2026. The team will begin an extended period of preparation, including friendly matches, ahead of the qualifiers in November. The GFA confirmed that the squad will remain together in camp until the qualifiers get underway.
Ghana has been handed a bye into the second round of qualifying, skipping the opening round altogether. The team will face the winner of the first-round tie between Togo and Libya in a two-legged affair. The first leg is scheduled for November 9, 2026, and the return fixture is set for November 17, 2026. A successful qualifying run would give Ghana a chance to end a long absence from Olympic football.
The U-23 AFCON is a continental tournament for players under 23 and doubles as a qualification pathway to the Olympic Games football tournament. A successful qualifying run would give Ghana the chance to participate in the Olympic football tournament for the first time since the 2004 Athens Games. The broader qualifying process across the continent aims to produce seven teams that will join host nation Egypt at the eight-team U-23 AFCON finals.
The squad announcement offers an early look at players who could represent Ghana on both the continental and Olympic stage. The GFA has not detailed the full list of friendly opponents the team will face while in camp, nor has it named the specific 26 players beyond confirming the squad size. Some details of the preparation schedule still need to be clarified.
Camp opens in Prampram on September 29, 2026, with the team expected to stay together, subject to club release periods, until the qualifiers begin. The GFA noted that some players may be temporarily released to fulfil commitments with their clubs before returning to continue training with the national team.
Should Ghana advance, the final qualifying round is scheduled for March 22 to 30, 2027. The GFA has confirmed that the team will face the winner of a separate second-round tie involving São Tomé and Príncipe, Equatorial Guinea, and Niger in the final qualifying round.
The GFA and coach Desmond Ofei are optimistic about the team's chances in the qualifiers. The Black Meteors' preparations are crucial in determining Ghana's representation in the U-23 AFCON 2027 and the Olympic Games football tournament.
Key points
- Coach Desmond Ofei names 26-man Black Meteors squad for U-23 AFCON 2027 qualifiers
- Ghana handed bye into second round of qualifying, to face Togo-Libya winner
- Successful qualifying run could end Ghana's long absence from Olympic football
