Ghana’s quest to end its 23-year absence from men’s Olympic football has entered a crucial stage, with the Black Meteors arriving in Libya ahead of their 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie.
Head coach Desmond Ofei and his squad arrived at Benina International Airport on Sunday, November 8, 2026, to begin preparations for Wednesday’s first-leg encounter against Libya.
The match will be played at the Benghazi International Stadium on November 11, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm local time (5pm Ghana time).
The two teams will meet again in the return leg on Tuesday, November 17, at the Accra Sports Stadium, with the winner advancing to the next qualifying round.
Ghana will face either Equatorial Guinea or Niger in the subsequent round if they overcome Libya, as they pursue a place at the eight-team continental tournament.
The Black Meteors received a bye in the first round of the three-stage qualification series, which will produce seven qualifying teams to join hosts Egypt at the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament represents an important pathway for Ghana’s Olympic football ambitions, as the country seeks to return to the men’s football competition at the Olympic Games.
Ghana last participated in Olympic men’s football at the 2004 Athens Games. Securing qualification for the 2027 continental tournament would therefore be a significant step towards ending the country’s 23-year absence from the Olympic football stage.
