Ghana U-23 assistant coach Yaw Preko has hailed the strong sense of unity within the Black Meteors camp ahead of Wednesday’s 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying first-leg encounter against Libya in Benghazi.
Preko believes the growing relationship between the home-based and foreign-based players has created a positive atmosphere within the squad as Ghana prepare for a difficult away assignment on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
The former Ghana international was particularly impressed by the respect and understanding among the players, insisting that the team has developed a collective purpose as it pursues qualification for the continental tournament.
“The level of unity within this group is amazing. The respect between the home-based and foreign-based players is beautiful, and we hope to translate that into positive performances on the pitch.”
Yaw Preko, Black Meteors Assistant Coach
His comments underline the importance of team cohesion as head coach Desmond Ofei and his technical team attempt to guide Ghana through the qualifying campaign and bring the country closer to a return to the Olympic Games football tournament.
Meteors Target Olympic Return
The assignment carries significance beyond the immediate objective of progressing to the next qualifying round. The 2027 U-23 AFCON in Egypt will also serve as Africa’s qualification tournament for the men’s football event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Ghana have not featured in the Olympic football tournament since Athens 2004, leaving the Black Meteors with an opportunity to end what would be a 24-year absence if they successfully navigate the qualification process.
Yaw Preko knows this well and have set sights on returning to the Games.
“Our objective is to see Ghana’s Olympic team return to the Games after 24 years. The last appearance was in 2004, so everything comes down to having a common purpose and working towards our collective goal.”
Yaw Preko, Black Meteors Assistant Coach
The country has a proud history in Olympic football, highlighted by its bronze-medal achievement at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Ghana became the first African nation to win an Olympic football medal after reaching the semi-finals, where they lost to Spain before defeating Australia 1-0 in the third-place match.
The Black Meteors also participated in the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney tournaments, but have been unable to reproduce their earlier success.
Their record in the CAF U-23 AFCON finals has been less impressive. Ghana’s first appearance came in 2019 in Egypt, where they finished fourth after losing to South Africa in the third-place playoff on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
They returned to the competition in 2023 in Morocco but exited at the group stage after finishing third in Group A. Ghana opened with a 3-2 victory over Congo, suffered a 5-1 defeat to hosts Morocco and drew 1-1 with Guinea, collecting four points from three matches.
The current campaign therefore presents another opportunity for Ghana to establish themselves among Africa’s leading youth teams while pursuing a return to the Olympic stage.
Preko Confident in Preparations Despite Early Challenges
Ghana began preparations at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram several weeks before travelling to Libya.
However, the ongoing domestic league presented difficulties for the technical team in assembling the squad and conducting their preparations.
He also paid tribute to the previous technical team led by Ibrahim Tanko, alongside Godwin Attram and the late Michael Osei, for their efforts in the previous Olympic qualification cycle.
“The baton has now been handed to us, and we believe we have what it takes to build on their work. This is the beginning of our journey.”
Yaw Preko, Black Meteors Assistant Coach
The assistant coach believes the current group possesses the necessary quality to make progress, although he stressed that talent must be accompanied by discipline, character and concentration.
He also cautioned young players against allowing “social media activities to distract them” from their footballing responsibilities, explaining that the selection process considered more than “technical ability.”
Foreign-based Arrivals Strengthen Squad
The arrival of the foreign-based players has provided additional competition and energy within the squad, with Preko particularly encouraged by how quickly they have integrated with their domestic counterparts.
He revealed that the technical team had been “pleased” with the players’ response during training, noting that the foreign-based contingent had not created any “sense of division’ or “superiority” within the group.
According to Preko, the squad’s latest training sessions have demonstrated encouraging levels of sharpness, concentration and commitment ahead of the encounter.
“There was hardly any difference between the home-based and foreign-based players. Sometimes, home-based players can feel overshadowed when their foreign-based colleagues arrive, but that has not been the case with this group.”
Yaw Preko, Black Meteors Assistant Coach
The assistant coach also praised head coach Desmond Ofei’s leadership and the relationship within the technical team, describing the collective effort as an important ingredient in their ambition.
Preko, who represented Ghana at U-17, U-20, U-23 and senior levels, believes qualifying for the Olympics would provide an invaluable platform for the young players to develop their careers and gain international exposure.
He described the Olympic Games as a competition of enormous stature, insisting that experiencing the tournament could open significant opportunities for the players.
Black Meteors Wary of Libya Threat
Despite his confidence in the squad, the former Hearts of Oak head coach was careful not to underestimate Libya, describing their opponents as a formidable side capable of presenting serious difficulties.
The Ghana technical team has studied the North African country’s playing style and identified areas to exploit, while also preparing for different situations that could emerge during the first leg.
Preko admitted that playing away from home requires caution and respect for the opposition but insisted that Ghana would travel with the ambition of securing a positive result. “We are cautiously optimistic,” he explained, adding that the players understand the responsibility that comes with representing Ghana at international level.
The assistant coach also confirmed that the squad had no injury concerns, with all players fit and available for selection.
He expressed satisfaction with the reception from their Libyan hosts, the accommodation arrangements and favourable weather conditions, believing that the players have everything necessary to concentrate on the match.
Preko Calls For The Support of Ghanaians
Preko, however, wants Ghanaians to extend their support to the U-23 side, particularly with attention also focused on the Black Stars and their international assignments.
He appealed to supporters to remember the team in their prayers and give the young players the encouragement they need to overcome the challenge.
With the first leg scheduled for Wednesday in Libya and the return fixture set for November 17 in Accra, Ghana will be hoping to take a significant step towards the next qualifying round.
For Preko and his colleagues, the immediate priority is to negotiate the Libyan challenge before turning their attention to the longer journey towards Egypt 2027 and, ultimately, a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
READ ALSO: Agric Minister Engages Northern Regional Minister Ahead of REWARD Launch
