Interim Black Stars coach Bjorkegren admits challenging circumstances ahead of AFCON qualifiers against Somalia

Ghana's U-23 team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Libya in the first leg of the 2027 AFCON qualifier, leaving them trailing 1-0 heading into the second leg. The match took place at Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi on Wednesday. Ghana had Dacosta Antwi serving a red card for most of the second half, but they managed to hold out until Malik Binismaeil scored a dramatic winner five minutes from the end.

Head coach Desmond Ofei had selected Gidios Aseako as the goalkeeper, with Antwi defending alongside Roland Leveh, David Oduro and Raymond Agyemang. Captain Ishmael Addo, Daniel Adu-Adjei and Joseph Opoku rounded out the starting lineup. The lone opportunity for Ghana came in the first half when Adu-Adjei was through on goal but his shot was blocked by Libya's goalkeeper Mohammed Ammar.

Young Barcelona B forward Aziz Issah was among the substitutes. Ghana will now play the reverse leg against Libya at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, November 17. A win in the second leg would advance Ghana to the final round of qualifying, with Niger awaiting in the other match after Equatorial Guinea's withdrawal. The three-round series determines the seven teams who join host Egypt at the 2027 U-23 AFCON, which also serves as the pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Ghana's men haven't participated in the football event at the Games since Athens 2004.