The Black Meteors of Ghana lost by 1-0 to Libya in the first leg of their 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi on Wednesday night.
The defeat came after the dismissal of defender Antwi Dacosta, who received a second yellow card following an aerial challenge in which he was alleged to have elbowed an opponent.
The Meteors were reduced to 10 men following the incident and eventually conceded a late goal, leaving them with a difficult task ahead of the return fixture.
Goalkeeper Gidios Aseako could have done better with the decisive effort, as he failed to hold a shot directed towards him and spilled the ball into his own net.
The late setback compounded Ghana’s frustrations on a difficult evening, with head coach Desmond Ofei visibly unhappy with some of the referee’s decisions during the encounter.
The Black Meteors now face a tough challenge when the two teams meet again in the second leg on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
Ghana must overturn the one-goal deficit to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U-23 AFCON alive.
The team are also seeking a return to the Olympic Games men’s football competition for the first time since Athens 2004, with the 2028 Los Angeles Games forming part of their long-term ambition. Enditem
