Ghana's Black Meteors have named a 26-man squad as preparations begin for their TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2027 qualifying campaign. The squad will gather at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram from Tuesday, 29 September 2026, for an initial training camp. This camp will be used to step up preparations for the qualifiers, with a series of friendly matches expected to form part of the team's build-up. The team will remain in camp until the start of their qualifying campaign in November.
The Black Meteors have received a bye into the second qualifying round and will face either Togo or Libya. The first leg of the second-round tie is scheduled for 9 November 2026, with the return leg to be played on 17 November. The team's opponent in the second round will be determined after the matches between Togo, Libya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Equatorial Guinea, and Niger.
Should Ghana progress from the second round, they will face the winner of the second-round tie involving São Tomé and Príncipe, Equatorial Guinea, or Niger in the final qualifying round. The final round is scheduled to take place between 22 and 30 March 2027. A successful qualification campaign would see Ghana join hosts Egypt at the eight-team U-23 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations also serves as the pathway to the men's Olympic football tournament, making the upcoming campaign an important opportunity for Ghana's next generation of players to push for a place on the international stage. For Ghana, qualification carries added significance as the Black Meteors seek to return to the Olympic stage, having last appeared at the 2004 Athens Games.
Ghana's coach, Desmond Ofei, will have several months to build a squad capable of negotiating the qualifying rounds, beginning with the second-round tie in November. The team's preparations will be crucial in determining their chances of qualifying for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and the Olympic football tournament.
The Black Meteors' squad will comprise players from various clubs, although some players could be temporarily released to return to their clubs for domestic and other competitive commitments. The team's friendly matches will provide an opportunity for the players to gel and for the coach to assess their abilities.
The seven teams that qualify for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, along with hosts Egypt, will compete in the final tournament. Ghana's qualification campaign will be closely watched, given the team's absence from the Olympic stage for over two decades. The team's progress will be a significant step towards returning to the Olympic football tournament.
Key points
- Ghana's Black Meteors will face either Togo or Libya in the second qualifying round of the TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2027.
- A successful qualification campaign would see Ghana join hosts Egypt at the eight-team U-23 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
- The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations serves as the pathway to the men's Olympic football tournament.
