Ghana’s Black Meteors will open camp in Accra on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, as head coach Desmond Ofei begins preparations for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Ofei has invited 31 players to the initial camp, with the first phase limited to footballers based in Ghana. The selected players have been instructed to report to the Erata Hotel in East Legon at 16:00.
The squad has been drawn from clubs in the Ghana Premier League and Division One League, providing the early foundation for Ghana’s bid to qualify for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
Arrangements for players based outside Ghana will be communicated at a later date. Their involvement is expected to form part of the next stage of preparations, although no further details have yet been announced.
Ghana will not be involved in the opening round of the qualifying competition after receiving a bye. The qualifiers are scheduled to take place during the September and October international windows, but the Black Meteors will begin their campaign in October.
The Confederation of African Football has not yet released the pairings for the qualifying series, meaning Ghana’s first opponents remain unknown.
The tournament will carry added significance because qualification for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations will also provide the route to the men’s football competition at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The start of the Accra camp gives Ofei an opportunity to assess domestic-based players before the international phase of the build-up begins. Players from the Ghana Premier League and Division One League will make up the opening group, with the squad expected to develop further once foreign-based members are considered.
The Black Meteors enter the process with the objective of reaching the continental tournament and keeping alive Ghana’s hopes of Olympic qualification. Their campaign will begin once CAF confirms the draw and the relevant fixtures for the later qualifying round.
The 31 invited players are expected at the Erata Hotel from 4:00pm on Wednesday, 5 August. The camp marks the official beginning of Ghana’s preparations for the September/October qualification window, despite the team’s first competitive tie being scheduled for October because of the opening-round bye.
