Black Meteors assistant coach Yaw Preko has declared that Ghana’s ultimate ambition is to end a 24-year absence from the Olympic Games as the national U-23 team begins its journey towards qualification.
Ghana have not featured in the men’s Olympic football tournament since the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece, and Preko says restoring the country to the global stage remains the technical team’s primary objective.
The Black Meteors are preparing for a crucial second-round qualifying tie against Libya in the race for a place at the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament that also serves as the pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Speaking ahead of the first-leg clash, Preko stressed that unity, discipline and teamwork will be vital if Ghana are to achieve their long-term target.
“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.”
The former Medeama SC and Great Olympics coach also emphasised the importance of putting the team ahead of individual ambitions, insisting success can only be achieved through collective effort.
Preko praised head coach Desmond Ofei for his leadership and coaching philosophy, highlighting the blend of European and African football principles he has introduced to the team.
“Having been involved with the national teams for a long time, I understand that individual egos must not come into play. We are fortunate to have a coach in Desmond Ofei, who is blending European coaching principles with the African approach to the game.”
The Black Meteors will take on Libya in the first leg of their second-round qualifier in Benghazi on Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 local time (17:00 GMT).
The return leg will be played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, November 17, where Ghana will look to capitalise on home advantage to book a place in the final qualifying round.
Victory over the two legs would set up a decisive playoff against either Equatorial Guinea or Niger for a place at the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Having received a bye in the opening round of the qualification series, the Black Meteors know they are now just two rounds away from the continental championship.
Beyond qualification for the U-23 AFCON, Ghana’s greater ambition is to return to the Olympic Games for the first time since Athens 2004, ending a two-decade wait and restoring the country’s presence on football’s biggest multi-sport stage.
