Black Meteors head coach Desmond Ofei has named a squad made up of Ghana-based players as the team begins preparations for its U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The selected players are due to report to the Erata Hotel in East Legon at 16:00 on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, when the team’s training camp in Accra opens.
The squad has been drawn from clubs in the Ghana Premier League and Division One League. It represents the local-based element of Ofei’s group, with plans expected to be made to bring in eligible U-23 players based outside Ghana before the qualifiers begin.
Ghana will not play in the opening phase of the qualifying competition after receiving a bye. The Black Meteors are therefore scheduled to enter the campaign in October, although the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not yet announced the qualifying pairings.
The qualifiers are set to take place during the September/October international window, with Ghana’s opening match expected to come in October.
Ofei’s initial selection provides the foundation for the side’s preparations as Ghana targets a place at the U-23 AFCON. The competition also serves as the qualifying route to the men’s football tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Black Meteors will be aiming to return to the Olympic football stage, while also challenging for continental success at the U-23 level. The local-based players called up for the first phase of the programme will begin that process when camp opens in Accra.
The squad announced by Ofei is made up only of players currently based in Ghana. Further decisions on the inclusion of foreign-based U-23 players are expected as preparations continue and the qualifying schedule becomes clearer.
CAF’s decision on the qualifying pairings will determine Ghana’s opponents and provide greater detail on the team’s route through the competition. Until then, the opening camp will allow Ofei to work with the domestic-based group ahead of the October campaign.
The Black Meteors’ preparations come at the start of Ghana’s attempt to secure qualification for the U-23 AFCON and, through it, a place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The current squad will form the starting point of that pursuit, with the coaching staff expected to build on the group as the qualifiers approach.
