Egypt will host the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in November 2027, with eight countries set to compete for the continental title.

The qualification campaign is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with Ghana’s Black Meteors preparing to enter the qualifiers. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is yet to announce the qualifying pairings.

The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualification competition for the men’s football tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Under the new allocation, Africa will have two places at the Olympic tournament, meaning the two finalists of the 2027 U-23 AFCON are expected to qualify.

The competition is therefore important for Ghana, which has not featured in the men’s Olympic football tournament since the 2004 Athens Games.

The Black Meteors, under coach Desmond Ofei, will begin preparations for the qualifiers with the aim of securing a place at the tournament in Egypt.

A successful campaign would give Ghana the chance to end a 24-year wait for an Olympic appearance. Ghana last won an Olympic football medal in 1992, when the Black Meteors claimed bronze at the Barcelona Games.