Ghana’s Black Meteors suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Libya in the first leg of their 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie, but a spirited performance despite playing with ten men has kept their qualification hopes firmly alive.
The Mediterranean Knights secured a slender advantage at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi on Wednesday night, with Malik Binismaeil delivering the decisive blow just five minutes before the end of regulation time.
For much of the encounter, Desmond Ofei’s young Ghanaian side demonstrated admirable discipline, resilience and determination, refusing to surrender despite being reduced to ten men following the second-half dismissal of Dacosta Antwi.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Black Meteors responded with character, maintaining their composure and battling tirelessly to keep Libya at bay.
Ghana also had opportunities to make their presence felt in the attacking third, with Daniel Adu-Adjei coming agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the first half.
The forward was brilliantly released by an incisive through ball, but his attempted finish was denied by Libya goalkeeper Mohammed Ammar, who reacted sharply to preserve his side’s clean sheet.
Just when it appeared Ghana would leave Benghazi with a valuable draw, Binismaeil struck late to hand the hosts a first-leg victory and leave the Black Meteors with work to do in the return fixture.
Desmond Ofei’s men will now turn their attention to Tuesday’s return leg at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 17, 2026, where they must overturn the one-goal deficit to keep their continental ambitions alive.
The stakes are high, with the winner of the two-legged encounter advancing to the final qualifying round, where Niger await following Equatorial Guinea’s withdrawal from the competition.
Ghana may have suffered a setback in Benghazi, but their fighting spirit has ensured the tie remains delicately poised.
