The Black Meteors have stepped up their preparations for the upcoming U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with head coach Desmond Ofei continuing to assess his squad ahead of Ghana’s campaign.The first batch of players, drawn from the Ghana Premier League and Division One League, held another training session at the University of Ghana Stadium on Saturday, August 8, 2026, as preparations gather momentum for the qualifiers.The current exercise represents the local component of the Black Meteors’ preparations. Plans are in place to integrate foreign-based U-23 players into the squad as camping arrangements are finalised, ensuring the team has a full complement of talent for the qualifying campaign. The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign is scheduled to commence during the September international window. However, Ghana have received a bye and will enter the qualifiers in October. The Confederation of African Football is yet to announce the pairings and schedule for the qualifying rounds.The Black Meteors will be aiming to navigate the qualifiers successfully and secure a place at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which will also serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.Ghana have not qualified for the Olympics since 2004, when the team featured in Athens. The current generation of players will be determined to end that drought and restore the country’s presence on the global stage.Coach Ofei and his technical team are hoping the ongoing preparations provide the foundation for a strong qualifying campaign. The team’s focus will be on building cohesion, tactical discipline, and the winning mentality required to navigate the qualifiers successfully.With the qualifiers approaching, the Black Meteors are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to secure a place at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and, ultimately, the Olympic Games.
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