Black Meteors assistant coach Yaw Preko has defended the team’s squad selection ahead of Ghana’s crucial 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, insisting the technical team has assembled the strongest group available for the two-legged tie.
Ghana will travel to Benghazi to face the North Africans in the first leg of the second-round qualifiers on Wednesday before hosting the return fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, November 17.
The Black Meteors are seeking to take a major step towards qualification for the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, with victory over Libya moving them into the final qualifying round.
Speaking to the Ghana Football Association’s media team, Preko admitted that squad selection is always a subject of debate but stressed that head coach Desmond Ofei and his technical staff carefully evaluated every option before naming the final squad.
“In Ghana, regardless of the decisions you make regarding squad selection, some people will be happy while others will be disappointed,” Preko said.
“We have a pool of talented players, but talent alone is not enough to win games.”
The former Ghana international emphasised that mentality, discipline and commitment are just as important as football ability, adding that the influence of social media can sometimes distract young players from reaching their full potential.
“You also need character, focus and a bit of luck. Unfortunately, social media has become a major distraction for some young players. You see players with enormous talent, but their attention is sometimes taken away from their football by activities on social media. We believe this is the best group we could assemble at this stage.”
The Black Meteors received a bye in the opening round of the qualification series and now need to overcome Libya over two legs to keep alive their hopes of reaching the continental championship.
Should Ghana progress, they will face either Equatorial Guinea or Niger in the final qualifying round, with a place at the eight-team tournament in Egypt at stake.
The 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations will feature host nation Egypt alongside seven qualifiers, while the competition will also serve as the pathway to qualification for the next Olympic Games, making the upcoming ties against Libya crucial for Ghana’s ambitions.
