BY GRACE ZIGAH
Ghana’s Black Meteors suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Libya in the first leg of their second-round qualifying tie for the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations after a difficult evening at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi on Wednesday night.
The defeat leaves head coach Desmond Ofei’s side facing an uphill task ahead of next week’s return encounter in Accra, with Ghana needing to overturn the one-goal deficit to keep their hopes of reaching the continental tournament alive.
The Black Meteors had travelled to Libya hoping to secure a favourable result that would put them in a strong position before the second leg. However, the encounter was complicated by the dismissal of defender Antwi Dacosta, whose red card left Ghana playing with 10 men for a significant portion of the contest.
Dacosta was sent off after receiving a second yellow card following an aerial challenge in which he was alleged to have elbowed an opposing player. The decision proved costly for Ghana, who were forced to reorganise their defensive structure and manage the remainder of the match with a numerical disadvantage.
The dismissal disrupted Ofei’s tactical plans and handed Libya an opportunity to increase the pressure on the visitors as the hosts searched for a breakthrough.
Despite the setback, the Black Meteors attempted to remain organised and prevent Libya from taking advantage of their numerical superiority.
However, Ghana’s resistance was eventually broken late in the game when goalkeeper Gidios Aseako failed to hold a shot directed towards him, spilling the ball into his own net.
The unfortunate goal proved decisive, handing Libya a 1-0 victory and leaving the Ghanaian contingent frustrated after a contest in which the visitors had hoped to avoid defeat.
The goalkeeping error compounded Ghana’s difficulties on an evening already marked by controversy surrounding the officiating and the dismissal of Dacosta.
Head coach Desmond Ofei was visibly unhappy with some of the referee’s decisions during the encounter, although the immediate priority for his technical team will be to regroup and prepare for the decisive return fixture.
Dacosta’s dismissal emerged as one of the defining moments of the match, with Ghana having to adjust their approach after being reduced to 10 players.
The second yellow card followed an aerial challenge that the referee judged to be worthy of punishment after an alleged elbow on an opponent.
Playing with one man fewer placed additional pressure on the Black Meteors, particularly against a Libyan side enjoying home support.
The numerical disadvantage also affected Ghana’s ability to maintain their attacking threat while attempting to protect their defensive line.
Although the visitors managed to stay in contention for much of the encounter, the late goal ultimately handed Libya an advantage heading into the second leg.
The Black Meteors will now turn their attention to Tuesday, November 17, 2026, when they host Libya at the Accra Sports Stadium for the second leg.
Ghana must overturn the 1-0 aggregate deficit to advance to the next qualifying round. A victory by two clear goals would secure progression, while a one-goal victory would leave the tie level on aggregate and require the applicable tie-breaking procedure.
